Hochul vetoes 2 child care bills

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently vetoed two child care bills, sparking criticism from advocates and lawmakers. The bills aimed to improve child care accessibility for low-income families. The first bill, S4924A/A1303A, would have removed the requirement that parents earn above a minimum income to qualify for assistance, aligning New York with federal standards. The second bill, S8152A/A8878A, sought to decouple child care assistance from parents’ work schedules, helping those with irregular hours. Both bills had bipartisan support, but Hochul cited unaccounted costs as the reason for her vetoes, suggesting they be reconsidered during the state’s budget process.

Hochul did sign a third bill, S4667A/A4099A, which expedites temporary child care assistance eligibility but leaves implementation up to counties, creating potential inconsistencies across the state. Critics, including the Alliance for Quality Education, argued that the vetoes disproportionately harm low-income families, particularly in Black, brown, immigrant, and rural communities. They accused Hochul of prioritizing billionaire interests over struggling families.

Advocates, including EdTrust-NY and the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, vowed to push for these reforms in the next legislative session, emphasizing the need for expanded child care access to support working families and reduce poverty.

Source: Rochester First