YORK- Members of the York, Nebraska, community brought their ideas and concerns about child care policy to their state representative this week. State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward met with about two dozen constituents Monday evening at a town hall hosted by the York County Community Coalition and York County Development Corporation on the topic.

Hughes said she doesn’t have a background in child care, but she understands there are ways for the state to get out of the way of the industry. “I support whatever we can do to help child care because I vastly realize it is a top [No.] 2 to 3 issue for our district and the state,” Hughes said.

Hughes highlighted that state legislators in 2023 voted to further extend the expansion of child care subsidy eligibility through 2026 and authorize more tax credits for child care costs, such as $7.5 million in tax credits for the school readiness tax credit. Another possible solution, Hughes said, is to streamline licensing requirements. Senator Ibach is currently working on legislation that would do just that.

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