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WV HB5628

Bill

Official Source

Status

Introduced

2/16/2026

Primary Sponsor

Bob Fehrenbacher

Click for details

Origin

House of Delegates

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Addresses the "benefits cliff" where families abruptly lose child care assistance due to modest income increases, which discourages wage growth and destabilizes child care arrangements
  • Authorizes the Department of Human Services to adopt policies that gradually phase out child care subsidies as family income rises, rather than cutting off benefits suddenly
  • Permits specific mitigation methods including expanded sliding fee scales, higher exit eligibility thresholds, graduated phase-out structures, and transitional eligibility periods
  • Requires implementation of cliff mitigation policies by January 1, 2027
  • Mandates annual reports to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on the implementation and impact of these strategies

Legislative Description

Relating to mitigating the abrupt loss of child care assistance resulting from modest increases in family income

Human Services

Last Action

To House Health and Human Resources

2/16/2026

Committee Referrals

Health & Human Resources2/16/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available