The provisions contained in HB 136 which did not pass in Maryland’s 2023 Legislative Session, will be adopted by the Maryland State Department of Education. After an opportunity for comments is required to complete the regulation changes, this adjustment will support thousands of informal home-based childcare service providers.  Opening their licensed family child care home using their TIN (Tax ID Number) will allow educator-entrepreneurs to create healthy and safe spaces for vulnerable children, access ongoing quality improvement services, and qualify for child care subsidy payments;  they will also contribute to our state’s tax base and support their family’s self-sufficiency.

Latinas and other immigrant women are increasingly playing a vital role as workers in the early care and education sector. As immigrant communities in Maryland, we need this change in regulation and follow the example of other states like  Massachusetts and Colorado which have been implementing these regulations for decades.

For our mamas, tias, abuelas, comadres, this is a crucial opportunity for opening a micro-business and contributing significantly to the development of their community. Latinas want to remain financially independent and provide critical childcare services to the children in their communities who have been underserved for decades. As a collective and big familia, we ask you to sign this petition and raise our voices, and unirnos como uno!