Bill to repeal funding for childcare workforce grant becomes law 

A bill that takes the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services off the hook for providing funding to a childcare workforce grant became law this week. 

The state’s budget bill, signed last June, included funding toward early education-related programming. The appropriation of $15 million over two years is for a childcare workforce grant program that would give programs money to raise staff wages and help recruit more teachers. 

Funding for the workforce grant program created significant debate this legislative session, as lawmakers struggled to solidify funding for the program that did not draw on state dollars. 

House Bill 1515 repeals a short line in the budget that would have required the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate $15 million toward the program no matter how, or if,  lawmakers decide to source the money. It does not repeal the guidelines or appropriation for the workforce program, but removes the requirement that the department contribute the full amount. 

The bill went into law on May 23 without Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s signature. It will take effect on July 1.