An Act To Improve Access To Child Care And Early Childhood Education By Establishing Regional Resource Hubs

LD 1859 establishes four regional resource hubs across Maine by November 2025 to improve access to child care and early childhood education. These hubs, operated by existing regional nonprofits, will help families locate programs, assist with applications for the Maine Child Care Affordability Program, and connect parents to local resources like public preschools and community agencies. Each hub must conduct annual needs assessments, create regional plans based on parent and employer input, and support child care providers through training and business assistance. The bill directly affects families with young children, child care providers, employers, and educators by coordinating existing services and increasing access to high-quality early childhood programs.