Mississippi House Bill HB450

Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/25
• Refer: 1/10/25
• Failed: 2/4/25

Caption

Child Care for Working Families Study Committee; establish.

Impact

The proposed committee will focus on a range of essential studies, including a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis to evaluate how improving access to affordable child care could raise Mississippi's labor force participation rate. Other aspects to be examined include the total funding required to assist current recipients of the Child Care Payment Program and the additional funding necessary to support all eligible children and families that are currently on the waiting list for assistance. By ensuring a thorough analysis of available resources and spending, the committee could lead to significant improvements in child care policies within the state.

Summary

House Bill 450 aims to establish the Child Care for Working Families Study Committee in Mississippi. This committee is tasked with developing recommendations to ensure that every working parent in the state has access to affordable child care, thereby enabling them to fully participate in the labor force. By exploring strategies to increase the number of eligible children and families receiving child care assistance, the bill addresses crucial needs for low- to moderate-income families struggling to find affordable care options. The committee will examine all federal revenues received by the state and state funds spent that can be utilized for child care assistance programs.

Contention

The bill reflects an acknowledgment of the economic impact of child care on working families, as it aims to explore not only the immediate needs of these families but also the wider implications for Mississippi's economy. Opponents may argue that additional regulations or funding allocations could strain the state budget, while supporters maintain that it is an essential investment to boost workforce participation. The creation of this study committee is seen as a necessary step toward addressing the pressing issues related to child care accessibility in Mississippi.