MT HB456

Expands Montana's Best Beginnings child care scholarship program to include child-care workers employed at licensed day-care centers or registered family/group day-care homes, in addition to low-income families

Child-care workers qualify if they work the minimum required hours (per federal regulations at 45 CFR 98.16(g)) and have household income below two times the state median income

Low-income family eligibility remains unchanged: qualifying income threshold at no less than 185% of federal poverty level, with maximum set by federal child care and development block grant limits

Appropriates $5.5 million from the general fund to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for each year of the biennium beginning July 1, 2025

Effective date: July 1, 2025