The proposed bill establishes a Tri-Share Workforce Pilot Program aimed at assisting parents and caretakers in accessing affordable child care, thereby enabling their participation in the workforce. The program will involve a partnership among participating employers, employees, and the state, where each party shares equal responsibility for child care costs for dependent children aged birth to eight years. The Department of Human Services is tasked with developing and implementing this three-year pilot program, which will be conducted in two urban and four rural counties selected based on employer interest and workforce needs. Eligibility for the program is limited to employees whose household income falls between 150% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and who do not qualify for existing child care subsidies.

The bill mandates that the Department of Human Services provide annual reports to the Legislature detailing participation rates, child care facility availability, costs, and the program's impact on community workforce participation. If the pilot program proves effective in enhancing child care stability, affordability, access, and quality, a similar statewide program will be implemented. The funding for the pilot program is capped at $2 million, and the act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.