The Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee voted to report out Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5752 with a due‑pass as amended recommendation after debating co‑pay levels, eligibility for Working Connections childcare and several targeted pilot programs.

Chair Representative Bergquist opened discussion and Vice Chair Cortez moved the bill to be reported out with a due‑pass as amended recommendation. The committee considered four floor amendments: Harrington 7‑19 (offered by Representative Bergquist) was adopted; Harrington 7‑18 (offered by Representative Dent) was not adopted; Harrington 7‑17 (offered by Representative Dent) was adopted; and Harrington 7‑21 (offered by Representative Bergquist) was adopted. The final committee roll call recorded 8 ayes, 1 “nay, do not pass” (Representative Penner) and 2 “nay without recommendation” (Representative Burnett and Representative Hill), and the bill was reported out of committee as amended.

The amendments kept in place expanded eligibility protections for apprentices and reinstated the existing Working Connections child‑care copay schedule rather than the lower copay proposed in the underlying bill. Representative Dent urged support for retaining eligibility and the current copay, saying the program is “a pathway out of dependence” for families and that early learning improves long‑term outcomes. Chair Bergquist and other supporters said the bill is a work in progress but expressed support for amendments that delay or align some program changes because of current state budget constraints.

Opponents and skeptical members framed their votes largely around budget concerns. Representative Penner said the state already collects substantial data and questioned adding new or expanded entitlements without a clear connection to improved outcomes. Representative Hill, while sympathetic to the policy aims, said budget constraints require additional work on revenue and prioritization and voted no without recommendation. Representative Burnett also voted no without recommendation but described some improvements in the bill as making “a bad program a little bit better.”

Committee discussion cited specific household impacts used in testimony: a single‑parent family of three currently paying a $65 monthly copay (about $780 per year) could face a copay that approaches $2,000 per year under the proposed schedule in the underlying bill. Supporters of the adopted copay amendment said the change would avoid that rapid increase for families while preserving program access for child‑care workers and apprentices.

The adopted pilot amendment (Harrington 7‑21) requires the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to partner with a school district and a metropolitan park district in a qualifying city to run a pilot to increase access to school‑age only childcare programs. Committee members described the pilot as a way to test partnerships that could later be expanded.

Action: Vice Chair Cortez moved the motion to report Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5752 out of committee with a due‑pass as amended recommendation. Vote on final motion: 8 yes, 1 nay (do not pass), 2 nay (without recommendation).