Sen. Ingwersen introduces bill to invest in Maine’s essential child care system

AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, Jan. 21, Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, introduced a bill to invest in Maine’s essential child care system. LD 2066, “An Act to Establish the Child Care Employment Award,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, which the senator chairs. It seeks to build on a successful two-year pilot program, which has demonstrated effective coordination and strong uptake with existing State programs. At the same time, it revealed significant, remaining unmet need.

“At its core, this bill recognizes a simple truth: our child care system cannot function without the educators and staff who show up every day to care for Maine’s youngest children – and those workers must be able to afford child care themselves,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “When child care workers can afford child care for their own children, staffing levels stabilize, classrooms stay open and parents across all sectors can continue working. This program is not simply a benefit for individual educators – it is essential infrastructure.” 

As proposed, the bill would make the Child Care Employment Award a permanent component of Maine’s child care subsidy system, along with the Child Care Affordability Program. As of September 2025, the program currently supports 511 Maine children from 313 working families. Without additional funding, 470 children from 312 families will remain on the waitlist. 

The Child Care Employment Award maximizes existing public investments in child care. Sixty-two percent of participating families are eligible for the Child Care Affordability Program and receive subsidies from it. The Child Care Employment Award covers the required co-payments, at an average of $114. Without the Child Care Employment Award, child care workers earning low wages would have to cover this cost out of their pockets.

Recently, Kentucky adopted a similar program, ensuring that people who care for young children can access affordable child care themselves. Early outcomes show improved recruitment, higher retention and greater program stability. 

The Maine Legislature first established the Child Care Employment Award in 2023.

In the coming weeks, the Committee will schedule a work session for the bill.

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