Budget & Taxes

H.248 amends existing laws regarding child care grants and financial assistance programs. It allows the Commissioner for Children and Families to provide supplemental financial relief to child care programs at risk of closing, particularly those in high-poverty areas. The bill also expands eligibility for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, enabling families with incomes up to 575% of the federal poverty level to receive subsidies for child care needed for employment or training. Additionally, it revises payment schedules for child care providers, requiring timely payments and reducing the rate difference between family child care homes and center-based programs.

H.489 adjusts the Vermont state budget for fiscal year 2025 by modifying funding allocations across multiple agencies. It increases total funding for the Judiciary by $2.56 million (primarily through General Fund) and shifts $786,000 from Operating Expenses to Personal Services for the Agency of Digital Services. The bill also raises Human Services funding by $841,000, including a $4.3 million increase in the Global Commitment fund, while reducing Public Safety Criminal Justice Services funding by $681,000. These changes directly affect state agencies managing digital infrastructure, courts, public safety, and human services programs. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on April 4, 2025, and did not become law.