2020 – New Mexico creates the Early Childhood Trust Fund with a $300 million endowment, later growing to about $10 billion from oil‑and‑gas revenue, establishing the financing base for its future universal child‑care program[2].

2020 – California’s early‑childhood budget exceeds $5 billion, laying the groundwork for later expansion that more than doubles to $14 billion by 2026, enabling free transitional kindergarten statewide[4].

2023 – New York City runs a free‑bus pilot that lifts ridership on fare‑free routes but does not improve speeds, informing Mayor Mamdani’s later “fast and free” bus proposal[1].

2020‑2024 – A UC Berkeley study links California’s public TK expansion to 167 preschool closures in Los Angeles County, highlighting the pressure on private providers[4].

Nov 1 2025 – New Mexico launches universal, free child care, enrolling ~7,000 children from ~6,000 families in the first month; 63 % are newly eligible and 1,351 providers (85 % of eligible) join the subsidy[2].

Dec 13 2025 – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the program is “an investment in the state’s workforce and economic health,” while base pay for early‑childhood workers rises to $16‑$19 per hour[2].

Dec 30 2025 – Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveils a tax‑funded affordability agenda that includes universal child care costing about $6 billion annually, free “fast and free” buses at $800 million per year, and five city‑run supermarkets for food‑insecure neighborhoods; he notes he must secure Gov. Hochul and the state legislature’s support to change tax policy[1].

Dec 30 2025 – City comptroller data show infant/toddler family‑based child‑care costs jump 79 % to $18,200 annually since 2019, underscoring the urgency of a universal child‑care proposal[1].

Jan 8 2026 – Mayor Mamdani announces a citywide free and subsidized child‑care plan that lowers fully funded age to 2 years, targets 100,000 new slots, and will be staged after a budget submission due Apr 1; he ties the effort to his campaign promise and cites that 26 % of NYC children live in poverty[3].

Jan 8 2026 – Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Mamdani unveil a phased “2 Care” rollout in high‑need NYC neighborhoods, pledging state support for the first two years from existing revenues and emphasizing that families are “front and center” of the effort[5].

Jan 8 2026 – Hochul announces a broader statewide universal pre‑K goal targeting full availability by the 2028‑2029 school year, with a near‑term $1.7 billion investment and total child‑care spending projected at $4.5 billion for the upcoming fiscal year[5].

Jan 8 2026 – Rebecca Bailin of New Yorkers United for Child Care calls the 2‑year‑old free‑care plan “historic,” highlighting its potential relief for thousands of families[5].

Feb 17 2026 – Gov. Gavin Newsom declares free transitional kindergarten for all 4‑year‑olds statewide, calling it “the most significant expansion of child care in America,” after state early‑childhood funding more than doubles to $14 billion[4].

Feb 17 2026 – Newsom’s TK expansion adds 130,000 subsidized slots but falls short of the 200,000‑slot target; private preschools such as Frisha Moore’s Elk Grove center see enrollment drop to 40 % capacity, risking closures[4].

Apr 1 2026 (planned) – NYC will submit its budget incorporating the 100,000 additional child‑care slots and phased Pre‑K seat increases for 4‑year‑olds, setting the financial framework for the city’s expanded affordability agenda[3].

2028‑2029 (planned) – New York State aims to achieve universal pre‑K availability statewide, completing the expansion begun under Newsom’s TK rollout and Mamdani’s city plan[5].