The proposed bill, 2025 Senate Bill 710, seeks to amend existing statutes related to the Wisconsin Shares program, which provides child care subsidies for low-income custodial parents. Currently, Wisconsin Shares payments can only be made to child care providers that are licensed or certified by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or contracted by a school board. The bill introduces new provisions allowing Wisconsin Shares payments to be made to child care providers operating in Indian country, provided they are regulated by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in Wisconsin, have an agreement with DCF, and meet specific requirements set forth by DCF.

Key changes in the bill include the amendment of the definition of "child care provider" to encompass not only those licensed or certified by DCF but also those operating under tribal authority. Additionally, a new subsection is created to outline the criteria for tribal child care providers to qualify for Wisconsin Shares payments, including attestation of compliance with federal and state requirements. The bill also updates the list of eligible child care options for individuals to include these newly recognized tribal providers, thereby expanding access to child care subsidies for families in tribal communities.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 49.155(1)(ag), 49.155, 49.155(4)(a)