BIDDEFORD — A bill that seeks to help parents afford childcare is now the law in Maine.

On Monday at St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford, Gov. Janet Mills signed An Act to Improve Affordability, Stability and Access in the Child Care Affordability Program into law.

Bill sponsor Sen. Henry Ingwersen (D-Arundel) said the bill helps eligible families pay for childcare by providing subsidies to defray costs for 3,000 Mainers.

“As rising costs continue to squeeze the budgets of working Mainers and threaten the childcare businesses, we knew we had to strengthen the state support,” he said. 

Since 2019, the state has spent more than $145 million in state and federal funds on childcare and early education programs, according to the governor’s office.

Supporting childcare providers and the families who need their services has been a priority for Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) who said the measure signed into law Monday by Mills is just one of five bills that seek to provide relief.

Daughtry said she’s heard from parents who pay more for childcare than for their mortgage, with some saying they pay $20,000 or more for care each year.

She said the new bill “caps costs for families at an affordable rate and that we’re continuing to invest in these areas and not put the burden on the providers.”