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SB 243 · 2025 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Child care scholarship program rules

AI-generated

relative to the child care scholarship program.

Requires the commissioner of the department of health and human services to adopt administrative rules governing child care provider payments, a presumptive eligibility pilot program, and a study of the child care scholarship application process.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires the commissioner of the department of health and human services to adopt administrative rules regarding payments for child care providers, the child care scholarship presumptive eligibility pilot program, and the child care scholarship application process study.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“If a provider begins providing care to a child in the middle of a service period, the department may delay the first payment until the start of the next service period.”
Section 2
“RSA 167:83, II(t), related to the child care scholarship presumptive eligibility pilot program, is repealed.”
Section 3
“The department shall develop and implement a presumptive eligibility pilot program, whereby applicants who meet threshold screening requirements established by the department will receive the benefit of child care scholarship funds while the application process is underway, from the date of the initial screening until the earliest of:”
Section 2
“The date on which a final eligibility determination is made; or (C) The expiration of a submission period, the length of which shall be identified by the department, if the applicant fails to submit the required information or documentation to establish eligibility during this period.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Rep. Mary Jane WallnerDSenior Democratic Advisor
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law

Also: Sen. Donovan FentonD, Rep. Paige BeaucheminD

Public testimony

317 signed in online · 45 wrote testimony

98% support2% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“We have many families that would benefit from the child care scholarship but they don't apply. The reasons are: 1. Its too complicated 2. Too confusing 3. Time consuming”
— alexis corson, Wolfeboro · The Wolfeboro Area Children's Centersupports
“This bill would make child care scholarship so much better for not just families but also child care providers. Please support this bill.”
— Lauren Martin, Amherstsupports
“Help with childcare will keep NH working and profitable. NH is a beautiful state. We need more younger people! Families will be happy to move to NH if they know that they can live, work, and provide decent childcare for their kids.”
— Ann Beams, Hanoversupports
“Yet another bill attacking NH families! You are putting in a Medicaid work requirement but child care is not affordable. How can parents do it all? It’s hard enough with money but never mind if you have any kind of challenging situation or a single parent.…”
— Karla Gallaway, Exeteropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0787s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0787sadopted
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0787sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • May 22, 2025HouseDivisionLay SB243 on Table (Rep. W. MacDonald)Adopted277–83
    Overall
    77% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0787s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0787s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0787s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 16, 2025Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs5:55:33–6:01:325m 59slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs2:00:07–2:01:151m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:33:43–1:40:166m 33slocated in the stream transcriptLay SB243 on Table (Rep. W. MacDonald) — adopted, division 277-83
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 3
  2. Feb 19, 2025SenHearing: 02/19/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 10
  3. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0787s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0787s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0787s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  6. Mar 27, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 14
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  8. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 11 P. 113
  9. Apr 16, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/16/2025 02:00 pm LOB 205-207
  10. Apr 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/30/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
  11. Apr 30, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 04/30/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  12. May 7, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  13. May 22, 2025HouseLay SB243 on Table (Rep. W. MacDonald): MA DV 277-83 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 26
  14. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.