Increases Work First New Jersey Child Care appropriation by $28 million in FY2026 annual appropriations act to ensure full funding of child care subsidy program.

This bill increases funding for New Jersey's Work First New Jersey Child Care subsidy program by $28 million in the FY2026 budget, raising its total appropriation to $593.8 million. It directly affects lower-income families who rely on state child care subsidies to cover expenses for their children. The bill reverses policies implemented on August 1, 2025, by requiring the state to restart accepting new applications and return to pre-August 2025 family copayment rates (2-6% of income), which had been raised due to a funding shortfall. This change ensures the program operates fully without pausing new enrollments or increasing costs for eligible families.