Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1108

Introduced
4/3/25  
Refer
4/3/25  
Refer
6/17/25  
Report Pass
7/14/25  

Caption

In public assistance, further providing for copayments for subsidized child care; and making a repeal.

Impact

The bill's amendments are expected to greatly expand access to subsidized child care for families previously excluded due to income limitations. It mandates that a minimum of $25 million be allocated each fiscal year from appropriations made for child care services, which is designed to support the increased demand that may result from the higher income eligibility thresholds. Additionally, the provisions ensuring that children remain eligible for support for twelve months regardless of temporary changes in a parent's employment status provides stability for affected families, fostering an environment where parents can pursue employment or educational opportunities without fear of losing their child care subsidy.

Summary

House Bill 1108 proposes amendments to the existing Human Services Code related to copayments for subsidized child care in Pennsylvania. The bill aims to adjust the income thresholds for eligibility, allowing families earning up to 300% of the Federal poverty line to qualify for subsidized child care services. This is an increase from the previous limits, which capped eligibility at 235%. The bill also establishes a sliding scale for copayment amounts based on family income, ensuring that payments remain manageable for low to moderate-income families while minimizing their financial burden.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment around HB 1108 appears to be largely supportive, with advocates for child welfare and low-income families recognizing the potential benefits of reducing financial barriers to child care. Stakeholders argue that access to subsidized child care is crucial for families trying to achieve economic self-sufficiency, thereby benefiting both individual households and the broader community. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the funding and sustainability of the bill's provisions, highlighting the need for ongoing financial support from the state to maintain these expanded services.

Contention

Notable contention surrounding HB 1108 focuses on the long-term viability of funding subsidized child care services, particularly as the bill relies on appropriations from the General Assembly. Critics have pointed out that increasing eligibility limits without a corresponding increase in funding could lead to scenarios where demand outstrips resources, ultimately jeopardizing the availability of services for those who need them most. Furthermore, discussions around the details of how copayment amounts will be determined and implemented may spark debate among lawmakers, particularly regarding fairness and equitability in access to services.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1486

In public assistance, further providing for copayments for subsidized child care; and making a repeal.

PA HB2524

In public assistance, further providing for definitions and for copayments for subsidized child care.

PA SB257

In public assistance, providing for effect of postsecondary education and work force training on subsidized child care.

PA SB1188

Further providing for definitions and for kinship caregiver navigator website; providing for grants for case management and legal caregiver services; and making a transfer.

PA HB1380

In public assistance, further providing for administration of assistance programs.

PA HB1219

In personal income tax, further providing for classes of income and for special tax provisions for poverty and providing for alternative special tax provisions for poverty; in corporate net income tax, further providing for definitions, for imposition of tax, for reports and payment of tax, for consolidated reports and for manufacturing innovation and reinvestment deduction; in realty transfer tax, further providing for transfer of tax; in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for definitions; in entertainment production tax credit, further providing for definitions, for credit for qualified film production expenses, for carryover, carryback and assignment of credit and for limitations; in Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credits, providing for biotechnology; in neighborhood assistance tax credit, further providing for tax credit and for grant of tax credit; providing for expanded neighborhood improvement zones; in Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program, further providing for credit for child and dependent care employment-related expenses; providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund; and, in general provisions, further providing for underpayment of estimated tax, for method of filing and for allocation of tax credits.

PA SB654

In sales and use tax, further providing for

PA SB1335

In public assistance, further providing for definitions, for administration of assistance programs and for regulations for protection of information; in the aged, further providing for Life Program; and making a repeal.

PA HB1993

Further providing for title of act; in preliminary provisions, further providing for short title, for scope of act and for definitions and providing for regulations; in pharmacy audits, further providing for limitations; in registration, further providing for PBM and auditing entity registration; providing for pharmacy benefits manager contracts; in PBM cost transparency requirements, providing for PBM transparency report required, repealing provisions relating to regulations and providing for PSAO reporting requirements; in enforcements, further providing for scope of enforcement authority; providing for pharmacy services; and making repeals.

PA SB700

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in intermediate units, further providing for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, further providing for qualifications; in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificates, for career and technical instruction and for baccalaureate certification basic skills assessment; in Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, further providing for definitions, for program establishment and duties of agency, for eligibility and for report; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program and for school safety and security training and providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2024-2025 school year; in school security, further providing for duties of commission, providing for school security personnel and establishing School Security Personnel Fund; in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel and for School Security Personnel Fund; in school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for establishment and payment of tuition; in administrative partnerships between school entities, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions, providing for instructional programming partnerships authorized, for school district feasibility study and for construction and further providing for establishment, for application, for grant awards, for technical assistance, for reports by school entities and for reports by department; in talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification and providing for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; in disability inclusive curriculum, further providing for department responsibilities; in Schools-to-Work-Program, repealing provisions relating to expiration; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations, for tax credits and for limitations, repealing provisions relating to opportunity scholarships and providing for economically disadvantaged school scholarships; in course materials at institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to College Textbook Policies Advisory Committee; in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for memorandum of understanding; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to Public Higher Education Funding Commission; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2024-2025; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums and for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, further providing for State reimbursement for health services, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Commonwealth reimbursements for charter schools and cyber charter schools, repealing provisions relating to administrative and instructional consolidation incentives and further providing for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in State Board of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the board; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; in School Environmental Repairs Program, further providing for School Environmental Repairs Program Restricted Account and for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making editorial changes.

Similar Bills

CA AB1118

Land use: livability issues for older adults.

CA SB232

California Environmental Quality Act: guidelines: study.

CA AB2444

California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wildfire defense vegetation management projects.

MN SF1493

Purposes, processes, and related agency responsibilities modification for the sustainable building guidelines

MN SF5441

Sustainable building guidelines purposes, processes and related agency responsibilities modifications; sustainable building guideline compliance addition to predesign requirements; appropriating money

MN HF5312

Purposes, processes, and related agency responsibilities for sustainable building guidelines modified; sustainable building guideline compliance added to predesign requirements; report required; and money appropriated.

CA AB413

Department of Housing and Community Development: guidelines: translation.

WV SB207

Providing earned income tax credit against personal income tax