Relating to: Wisconsin Shares payments to tribal-regulated child care providers. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Armstrong and 10 co-sponsors

Allows Wisconsin Shares payments to tribal-regulated child care providers in Indian country that meet CCDF requirements and sign a DCF agreement, expanding subsidies for families.

Read first time and referred to Committee on Education

Main purpose

Allow Wisconsin Shares child‑care subsidy payments to be made to child‑care providers that are licensed or regulated by federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands and that operate in Indian country, provided they meet federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) requirements and enter into an agreement with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Key provisions

Statutory changes

Amends s. 49.155(1)(ag) and 49.155(4)(a) and creates s. 49.155(1)(ag)2.

New definition/eligibility pathway (49.155(1)(ag)2)

Permits a provider in this state to be treated as a “child care provider” under Wisconsin Shares if all of the following apply:
The provider operates in Indian country (as defined under 18 U.S.C. 1151) under the licensing or regulatory authority of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band located in Wisconsin.
The provider has entered into an agreement with DCF to receive Wisconsin Shares payments.
The provider and the tribe/band attest on a DCF‑prescribed form that:
- The provider is operating under the tribe/band’s licensing or regulatory authority as a lead agency under federal CCDF law (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) and implementing regulations (45 C.F.R. Part 98).
- The provider meets CCDF requirements for receiving payments.
- The provider satisfies any additional DCF rule requirements.

Changes to parental choice (49.155(4)(a))

Adds tribal‑regulated providers that meet sub. (1)(ag)2 to the list of provider types parents may select under Wisconsin Shares.

Who is affected

Primary: Child care providers operating in Indian country under tribal licensing/regulatory authority who wish to receive Wisconsin Shares subsidy payments.

Secondary: Low‑income families eligible for Wisconsin Shares who use tribal‑regulated providers, tribal governments administering child‑care regulation, and DCF (administration, contracting, and verification).

May also affect school‑contracted providers and DCF rulemaking processes.

Implementation and procedural notes

Requires providers to enter a contractual agreement with DCF and submit attestation on forms DCF prescribes.

Invokes federal CCDF statutory/regulatory standards (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.; 45 C.F.R. Part 98).

Fiscal effects: the bill text notes a state fiscal estimate will be appended (not included here); DCF rulemaking or administrative actions may be needed.

Legislative status and actions (selected):

LRB bill text dated Dec. 3, 2025 (LRB‑4252/1).
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education. Additional committee hearings were set and later canceled at the author’s request; the bill was later ordered to inactive file (Sept. 10, 2025) following several procedural moves during 2025.

Practical impact

If enacted, AB 710 would expand Wisconsin Shares subsidy access to children receiving care from tribal‑regulated providers in Indian country, subject to federal CCDF compliance and DCF agreement/verification — improving parity between state‑licensed providers and tribal providers for subsidy eligibility.

Bill