Early Futures is participating for the first time in Give to Lincoln Day, Lincoln Community Foundation’s annual giving event for Lincoln-based nonprofits.

The second session of the 109th Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die on April 17, wrapping up a busy 60-day session that saw some key wins for early childhood policy. Those wins included the passage of LB304, a landmark bill that preserved access to child care assistance for thousands of Nebraska families.

As the Nebraska Legislature wraps up its 2026 regular session, lawmakers and their constituents look forward to a slate of interim studies addressing various early childhood-related issues.

The Panhandle Childcare Expansion Project has been awarded $65,000 through the 6 Regions, One Nebraska Challenge Grant, supporting a regional effort to expand licensed childcare capacity and strengthen workforce stability across the Nebraska Panhandle.

LINCOLN — Calling affordable child care vital to Nebraska’s workforce, business leaders joined other advocates Thursday in championing a proposed state law to extend current income eligibility levels for a child care subsidy.

Nearly 4 million children in the United States can't get into a licensed child care center, costing states about $1 billion per year in lost economic activity from parents missing work or stepping away from jobs to support their families. Jonathan Vigliotti reports from rural Nebraska, where one community pooled its resources into one central location.

As a global technology company and Nebraska business leader, Hudl addressed its employees’ lack of child care options by partnering with a local Primrose Schools franchise owner to offer on-site child care. Hudl opened Primrose School at Hudl at their headquarters in Lincoln in July 2023.

Despite what promises to be a challenging year ahead for both state and federal lawmakers, one issue continues to unite Nebraskans across political lines: the care and well-being of our youngest kids.

In a new Nebraska Examiner op-ed, First Five Nebraska Deputy Director Elizabeth Everett highlights recent research showing that nearly three quarters of Nebraska voters believe families with young children are struggling—and 60% say government is doing too little to help. Across the political spectrum, Nebraskans support programs that strengthen families and don’t want to see them cut.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — Only around 50 days remain until Nebraska’s state senators gather for the next legislative session, and while facing down a massive budget shortfall is likely to demand the majority of their attention, it’s certainly not the only topic up for debate.

State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha introduced legislation in the last session to get rid of the sunset date for federal child care subsidies, set to expire Oct. 1 of next year.

Without an extension, families could see a major jump in their child care costs.