Today, Representative Joel Fry (R-Osceola) and Representative Ann Meyer (R-Fort Dodge) led bills to expand access to child care through the Iowa House. 

House File 2127 allows parents to pay the difference between Child Care Assistance rates and the rates charged to families to do not receive CCA. Fry led HF 2127 through the House. 

"This bill will allow flexibility between parents and child care providers to help raise the income of child care providers as well as allow more providers to accept Child Care Assistance," said Fry. "This bill will help increase access to child care in rural Iowa and across the state."

House File 2198 allows 16 and 17-year-olds to provide child care to school-aged children in a child care center without supervision. Meyer led this bill through the Iowa House. 

"Our child care industry is facing a workforce shortage, and this change can help to fill some of that gap," said Meyer. "This is not a requirement, but an additional option for our child care providers. Many 16-year-olds are more than capable of caring for school-aged children. Allowing them to take on this responsibility will not only increase access to child care for more kids but give those young adults valuable experience in a much-needed profession."

Both bills came from the Governor's Child Care Task Force recommendations. The Governor's child care task force includes representatives of businesses, local elected officials, in-home and in-center providers, and nonprofit organizations. 

HF 2127 passed the Iowa House with a bipartisan vote of 61-37. HF 2198 passed the Iowa House with a bipartisan vote of 55-43.

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