Dear Neighbor,
It’s been a big week for bill hearings, with three I have authored moving through the committee process. Here is a look at each:
H.F. 1916 provides improved oversight for businesses that receive Child Care Assistance Program funding at a time our state reportedly has lost hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to program abuse.
First, my bill confirms attendance by requiring CCAP businesses to submit their video records upon request by the state twice per year at random. It also places false billings under the penalty of perjury.
Another provision in the bill requires electronic record keeping for attendance. It’s amazing that this isn’t already standard in this, the year 2025. The governor also proposes electronic record keeping, helping to gain bipartisan support for my bill.
The Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, which I chair, was receptive to this bill. I worked with the lead from the other side of the aisle to improve the bill and it passed.
H.F. 2078 provides some regulatory relief for you child care providers, while also enhancing parental rights. Key provisions include:
- Allowing parents to have access to their child at any time they are in attendance at a child care center.
- Easing some of the requirements and allows inspections to focus on health and safety instead of counting toys. It requires facilities to be in good repair and safe for children.
H.F. 1027 clarifies what to do with the surplus dollars in foreclosure cases when there is a surplus. This is a consumer protection bill, because it helps inform people of their rights to a surplus if they are being foreclosed upon.
There currently is no clear flow chart for where excess proceeds should be directed. The result is, because clear instruction is lacking, the money has just been sitting instead of being directed into the right hands. It’s usually not a lot of money because it's a foreclosed property, but there are cases where the proceeds exceed lienholder claims, and the property owner could qualify for a stake.
My legislation lays out what the sheriff is supposed to do in what order to disperse funds. This bill has been thoroughly worked on, with hours and hours and hours starting last year, and it has bipartisan support.
I am very pleased to be advancing so much legislation and all with bipartisan support. This is much different from when we were in the minority and it was nearly impossible to get a hearing on a Republican-authored bill. I am optimistic all three of these proposals will become law.
Sincerely,
Nolan