H 248 Vermont House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to supplemental child care grants and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program

H.248 amends existing laws regarding child care grants and financial assistance programs. It allows the Commissioner for Children and Families to provide supplemental financial relief to child care programs at risk of closing, particularly those in high-poverty areas. The bill also expands eligibility for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, enabling families with incomes up to 575% of the federal poverty level to receive subsidies for child care needed for employment or training. Additionally, it revises payment schedules for child care providers, requiring timely payments and reducing the rate difference between family child care homes and center-based programs.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

House Failed

May 2025

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action Jan 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) → As Passed By the House (OfficialOpens in a new window) · 4 edits · May 9, 2025

MODERATE

This is a transition from the unofficial to the official enrolled version of H.248, Vermont's supplemental child care grants and Child Care Financial Assistance Program bill. The most substantive change is the effective date, which was changed from 'on passage' to July 1, 2025. The remaining changes are structural and technical: Section 1's lettered subparts (A), (B), and (C) were consolidated into a single paragraph, a cross-reference in Section 2 was corrected, and standard introductory legislative matter (sponsors, committee referral, purpose statement) was added.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from 'on passage' to July 1, 2025, giving providers and families a defined start date rather than an immediate one upon the governor's signature.

TECHNICAL

Section 1 (33 V.S.A. 3505) restructured: the three lettered subparts (A), (B), and (C) under subdivision (a)(1) were consolidated into a single unlettered paragraph, simplifying the statutory structure without changing the substance of the provisions.

In Section 2 (33 V.S.A. 3512), a cross-reference was corrected from 'subdivision (2) of this subsection (a)' to 'subdivision (2) of this section,' fixing an internal citation error.

Standard introductory legislative matter was added, including the bill sponsors (Representatives Gregoire and Noyes), committee referral line, subject description, and a statement of purpose summarizing the bill's intent to expand how supplemental child care grants can be used and make miscellaneous CCFAP amendments.

As IntroducedOpens in a new window → As Passed By the House (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 5 edits · May 9, 2025

MODERATE

The House passed H.248 with two substantive policy changes: the effective date was moved from July 1, 2025 to immediate upon passage, and the supplemental child care grant provision was expanded so that financial assistance can be directed to either the closing program or a new program receiving its children. The bill also restructured Section 1 into lettered subdivisions for clarity and added 'not opening' alongside 'closing' as a trigger for extraordinary financial relief.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded slightly: extraordinary financial relief now covers programs at risk of not opening (not just closing), and assistance can be directed to a new receiving program, not only used for transitioning children out of a failing one. The effective date was accelerated from July 1, 2025 to immediate upon passage.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from July 1, 2025 to 'on passage,' meaning the law takes effect immediately once signed rather than waiting several months.

SCOPE

The extraordinary financial relief provision in Section 1 now explicitly allows the Commissioner to provide assistance to 'the existing or new program' to minimize disruption, not just to transition children out of a closing program. This broadens where funds can flow during a closure event.

ELIGIBILITY

The trigger for extraordinary financial relief was expanded from programs 'at risk of closing' to include programs at risk of 'closing or not opening,' covering programs that have not yet opened but face financial hardship before launch.

TECHNICAL

Section 1 was reorganized from a single narrative paragraph into three lettered subdivisions (A), (B), and (C) for structural clarity. The authority to request tax returns is now explicitly tied to implementing the extraordinary relief provision.

In Section 2, a cross-reference was corrected from 'subdivision (2) of this section' to 'subdivision (2) of this subsection (a)' for precision.

Floor votes · House May 8, 2025

How they voted

18–122

Failed · 5 other

Total votes 145

May 8, 2025

D Democratic86

14 Yea 70 Nay 2

81% Nay

I Independent3

2 Yea 1 Nay

66% Yea

R Republican56

2 Yea 51 Nay 3

91% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health and Welfare per Temporary Senate Rule 44A

upper

May 13, 2025

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Rules

upper

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report of Committee on Human Services, as amended, agreed to

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rep. Holcombe of Norwich moved to amend the report of the Committee on Human Services, as amended

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report of the Committee on Human Services amended as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rep. Mrowicki of Putney recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

lower

May 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rep. Cole of Hartford reported for the Committee on Human Services

lower

May 8, 2025

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (18-122-5)

house

May 2, 2025

Introduced

Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

May 1, 2025

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors