According to a Montana Free Press-Eagleton Poll conducted in January and February, 71% Montanans were concerned about the cost of child care. About 64% said they were concerned about the availability of child care in their community.Democrats expressed more concern about child care overall than Repu blicans. Of Democrats, 58% were “very concerned” about its cost, twice the 29% of Republicans polled who felt the same way. In terms of availability of care, 49% of Democrats polled were “very concerned,” compared to 23% of Republicans. The MTFP-Eagleton Poll surveyed more than 900 randomly selected respondents through telephone interviews and text-to-web questionnaires. Data collected in late January and early February has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 4.1% after being weighted to reflect the state’s demographics. The higher a person’s education level, the more concerned they were about the cost of care. About 55% of individuals with graduate-level experience were “very concerned” with the expense, in contrast to 31% with a high school diploma or less reporting being “very concerned.”Those who earned more were also concerned about the availability of care, with 46% of Montanans with a household income of $150,000 or more a year responding they were “very concerned” about its availability. In contrast, about 29% of families making $50,000 or less were “very concerned.” Women were more likely than men to indicate they were “very concerned” about child care availability.A number of bills related to child care are currently making their way through the Legislature. Sen. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, has proposed legislation that would provide tax credits in acknowledgment of the rising costs of child care. Senate Bill 321 would provide a $1,200 tax credit for low- and middle-income parents of children under 5. The bill would also provide $1,600 in income tax credit for child care workers with young children in addition to offering businesses up to $5,000 for each employee they provide direct child care support to. SB 321 is currently waiting for a hearing in the Senate Taxation Committee.Two proposals from Minority House Whip Rep. Jonathan Karlen, D-Missoula, aimed to expand the number of Montana families that would be eligible for Best Beginnings, an almost 20-year-old state-federal program that assists low-income families with the cost of child care. House Bill 457 would have shifted the income threshold for Best Beginnings from 185% of the federal poverty level to 85% of the state median income at a cost of $31 million annually. It was voted down in the House on March 21. Karlen’s other bill, House Bill 456, would automatically qualify child care workers for the program and estimates a cost of $5.5 million annually. The bill was heard in the House Appropriations Committee on March 24.Two bills from Sen. Dennis Lenz, R-Billings, would have revised regulations for child care facilities, including changes to how they hire, staff and structure their facilities. Both Senate Bill 269 and Senate Bill 285 died on the Senate floor in early March.Rep. Melissa Romano, D-Helena, put forward House Bill 360, which would have provided state funding to support child care providers’ efforts to recruit and retain employees. The bill was tabled in committee on Feb. 10. Other proposals to amend state requirements for certain child care facilities and bills to expand early education opportunities for children under 5 are also under debate. Alex Sakariassen contributed to this reporting. latest stories Bill that would sell isolated state land to neighboring landowners nears Gianforte’s desk One of the most controversial aspects of House Bill 676, sponsored by House Speaker Brandon Ler, R-Savage, directs the Land Board to sell isolated sections of state land to lessees who own adjacent property. Other components of the bill address a ruling the Montana Supreme Court issued in 2024 regarding privately held water rights applied to state land. by Amanda Eggert 03.25.202503.25.2025 Faced with kratom bill, lawmakers pressured to ‘get something passed’ At a March hearing for a bill to regulate kratom products, a proponent and opponents alike urged lawmakers to take some form of action, describing Montana’s current kratom market as a “Wild West” where synthetic offshoots and natural products intermingle without distinction. by Mara Silvers 03.25.202503.25.2025 The Session | The Montana State Hospital, doulas and St. Paddy’s day at the Capitol It’s week 12 for the 69th Legislature. Lawmakers are considering policy related to the Montana State Hospital and health and welfare in Indian Country.This is The Session, a look at the policy and politics inside the Montana State House. by MTFP Staff 03.25.202503.25.2025 The post Poll: A majority of Montanans express concern over child care availability, affordability appeared first on Montana Free Press. ...read more read less