Department of Human Services

Hawaii has the nation’s worst childcare shortage, with 96% of children living in childcare deserts—communities where three kids compete for one licensed seat. State subsidies for preschool are delayed, and educator shortages have reduced capacity, with private childcare seats declining by 950 since 2022.

A Commonwealth Court judge ruled Pennsylvanians can temporarily use Medicaid to cover abortions, overturning a 40-year ban. The decision follows a 4-3 ruling in April that found the ban violated the state constitution’s Equal Rights Amendment. The Republican state Attorney General has appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, but a judge allowed the lower court’s decision to stand pending review.

One year after President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Pennsylvania saw an 11% drop in SNAP enrollment, with 98,000 fewer participants due to new work requirements. The law includes Medicaid work requirements and tax cuts for billionaires, criticized by Rep. Brendan Boyle as disproportionately harming the poor and increasing the national deficit.

Tennessee’s voter registration deadline is July 7 for the August 6 elections. Eligibility requires being a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a Tennessee resident, and meeting felony conviction guidelines. Registration options include online, via the GoVoteTN app, mail, or in-person at designated offices.

Georgia Republicans blocked a Democratic attempt to override Governor Brian Kemp's veto of a Republican-sponsored bill requiring specific funds for state agencies to be kept in separate accounts. The bill, vetoed by Kemp for interfering with executive oversight, was one of 12 vetoes this year. The veto override attempt, the first since 2008, was thwarted by the bill's Republican sponsor, who stated implementation discussions with the governor were ongoing.

Approximately 100,000 Tennesseans lost SNAP food benefits since July 2025 under the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which imposed new work or school requirements for eligibility. Cassandra Doyle, an unhoused woman over 55 and cancer patient, is among those who lost benefits despite medical challenges.

Tennessee's SNAP enrollment decreased by 3% from January to April 2026, with 19,000 fewer recipients and reduced benefit payments. Rutherford and Montgomery counties mirrored the statewide decline. Data comes from the Department of Human Services.

A youth psychiatric facility in East Bethel, Nexus Family Healing, was under investigation by the Department of Human Services for violations including unreported maltreatment and unsafe medication practices. After a license suspension in May, Nexus announced an agreement with DHS to lift the suspension. Hennepin County awarded Nexus a $21 million contract in 2024 to operate a Youth Stabilization Center, citing urgent care needs for children.

Dozens of whistleblowers in Minnesota fraud were investigated by the state Department of Human Services, which tracked their phones, photographed their cars, and collected personal information about their children's schools. The article claims these workers were silenced for exposing the fraud.

Pennsylvania is advancing legislation to implement chip-enabled cards for SNAP beneficiaries to combat fraud, with House Bill 2540 requiring the state to offer these cards by January 2028. The initiative, co-sponsored by Reps. Dan Williams and Doyle Heffley, aims to prevent card skimming and secure $300 million in monthly food assistance benefits.