The Mississippi Senate voted Thursday to allocate $15 million for child care vouchers aimed at assisting about 20,000 low-income families on waiting lists for subsidies. The funding was added to House Bill 1909, the budget for the Department of Human Services, and must undergo further amendments before reaching Gov. Tate Reeves for approval, according to legislative sources.
Rep. Clay Deweese, a Republican from Oxford and a principal author of the original bill, told Mississippi Today he had not examined the recent amendment and declined to comment on its implications. He also said the absence of the funding in the House version reflected the chamber’s position. When asked about the discrepancy, Deweese said, “It’s just the House position,” and declined further comment.
Rep. Sam Creekmore, a Republican from New Albany and another author of the bill, expressed support for maintaining the Senate’s amendment, citing limited knowledge of the issue. Meanwhile, advocates and affected families continue to grapple with the crisis. Amaya Jones, a single mother in Jackson, has been without vouchers since June, forcing her to miss work when her mother, who cares for her children, becomes ill or has medical appointments.
Jones said she worries about losing her job and hopes lawmakers will address the issue. Advocates say the $15 million is a critical step but insufficient to eliminate the nearly 11-month waitlist. Bob Anderson, director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, has estimated that about $60 million would be needed to clear the backlog.
Sen. David Blount, a Jackson Democrat, suggested increasing the funding during floor debate, emphasizing the growing need. The bill includes a reverse repealer, which requires additional debate and votes before becoming law, a common process for large agency budgets. Child care providers continue to face challenges; Lynne Black, who runs two centers in Tupelo, reported losing nearly 100 children since April and reducing staff from 14 to five. Black warned that her centers could close as early as May if conditions do not improve.
