Three bills addressing child care issues in Iowa advanced through the Iowa House Human Resources Committee last week. In each case, United Way of Central Iowa, which has prioritized child care as part of its agenda during the current session, has advocated against the bills. Officials with United Way say the bills, if adopted, would place additional burdens on families, potentially lead to burnout among providers, or not be in the best interest of children. The bills, approved by the committee last week, are:

• House File 2127, which allows child care providers to ask child care assistance program participants to pay the difference to meet market rates.
• House File 2131, which would increase the number of 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds allowed in the care of an individual provider.
• House Study Bill 539, which would allow 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to be employed and provide child care without supervision.