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SB 95 Alaska Senate · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relating to the child care assistance program and the child care grant program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 95 updates Alaska's child care assistance program by establishing a clear income eligibility threshold: families must have a household income at or below 105% of the state's median monthly household income (adjusted for family size) to qualify, unless exempt. The bill amends existing statutes to correct inconsistent terminology between "day care" and "child care" throughout the law. This directly affects low- and moderate-income families applying for child care assistance and the state department administering the program. The changes ensure consistent program rules and clarify eligibility requirements for families seeking support.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed Jul 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Enrolled SB 95 → SB 95 · 7 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Alaska's child care assistance and grant programs by clarifying terminology (switching between 'day care' and 'child care'), adding new requirements for eligibility standards, income limits, and employer partnerships, and establishing quality designation criteria for child care facilities. The changes aim to modernize the program structure while maintaining core assistance provisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on child care assistance and grants, but the applicability is refined through clearer definitions and expanded eligibility criteria including income thresholds and facility quality standards.
DEFINITION

Terminology was standardized by swapping 'day care' to 'child care' and vice versa throughout the bill to ensure consistent language across sections.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility requirements were added, including a maximum household income threshold of 105% of the state median income, adjusted for family size.

Income contribution requirements were modified to cap parent contributions at no more than 7% of family monthly income.

REQUIREMENT

The bill now requires the department to establish a program partnering with private sector entities to create incentives for employers to develop on-site or near-site child care.

Child care facilities receiving grants must be designated as 'quality child care facilities' by the department, with specific criteria to be established through regulations.

Facilities receiving grants cannot deny child acceptance based on disability or socioeconomic status.

TIMELINE

The bill includes retroactivity to July 23, 2024, and conditional effective dates tied to federal approval of the state plan by January 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
60
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Jul 30, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed into law 6/24 CHAPTER 14 SLA 25
upper
May 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) PASSED Y27 N12 E1
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Moved SB 95 Out of Committee -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
lower
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) PASSED Y16 N3 E1
upper
May 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved SB 95 Out of Committee
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Moved SB 95 Out of Committee
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) REPLACED SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) PRIME SPONSOR CHANGED - SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.