Senate unanimously advances Daughtry bill to expand child care access and support early educators
LD 1955 strengthens programs that help working families and stabilize child care workforce
AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate today voted to unanimously advance LD 1955, “An Act to Increase Child Care Affordability and Early Childhood Educator Stability,” a measure aimed at making child care more accessible and affordable for families while supporting the workforce that provides it.
The bill, sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick), strengthens three key programs that are already delivering results forfamilies and early childhood educators across the state. It passed with broad bipartisan support.
“This bill is about something simple but incredibly important: helping Maine families get the child care they need and making sure the people who care forour kids can afford to keep doing this essential work,” said President Daughtry. “Families across Maine are struggling to find and afford child care. Providers are struggling to stay in the field. LD 1955 responds to both challenges with smart, targeted investments.”
“Senate President Daughtry’s leadership on LD 1955 is a powerful step forward for Maine families,” said Heather Marden, Co-Executive Director of the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children. “By moving more parents off the child care waitlist and investing in the early childhood workforce, this bill not only makes child care more affordable and accessible—it strengthens the backbone of our economy. Supporting those who care for our youngest learners is essential, and LD 1955 delivers the resources and respect our child care providers deserve.”
Key Components of LD 1955:
Supports the Salary Supplement Programto provide monthly stipends to child care educators—helping retain qualified staff in a field where wages have long lagged behind the value of the work.
Expands the Child Care Affordability Program, which currently has a waitlist of more than 700 children and adds accountability measures to ensure funds are used to serve families rather than returned unspent.
Continues a pilot program offering free child care to early educators’ own children—removing a major barrier that drives many out of the profession.
Invests in the future workforce by expanding access to scholarships and supporting early childhood education programs in Maine’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) system—without adding new costs.
The legislation was crafted to build on proven programs, improve equity in access, and support long-term workforce stability in one of Maine’s most critical sectors.
“We applaud Senate President Daughtry’s steadfast commitment to expanding access to quality child care,” said Rita Furlow, Senior Policy Analyst at Maine Children’s Alliance. “She understands that reliable child care is essential, not only so parents can confidently return to work, but also to ensure children receive the nurturing, high-quality care they deserve. This bill also prioritizes fair wages for early childhood educators, recognizing their vital role in our communities. Supporting children, families, and educators is an investment that strengthens Maine’s economy and its future. We are grateful for Senate President Daughtry’s leadership and dedication to building a brighter tomorrow for Maine’s children and families.”
“This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a Maine issue,”Daughtry said. “This bill helps parents get to work. It helps providers stay in the profession. It helps local businesses retain employees, and it helps Maine children get a strong start in life.”
LD 1955 is part of a broader statewide effort to address Maine’s child care crisis, which affects nearly every community. Families in Maine often pay as much for child care as they do for their mortgage or rent, and many providers face chronic staffing shortages. The bill now heads to the House forconsideration.