Perris, California

Riverside County is moving forward with a plan to create California's first special district dedicated to childcare, aimed at easing shortages in Moreno Valley and Perris — areas described as a "childcare desert." State Assemblymember Corey Jackson helped secure $2 million in state funding to cover local startup costs for the initiative.

The district still needs key details worked out, including who will serve on its governing board. Voters in the affected area will ultimately need to approve a funding mechanism, such as a local tax, before the district can operate — a measure that could go before voters as soon as 2028. A related bill to establish the district as a five-year pilot program failed to pass the Legislature this year.

Jackson said he hopes additional funding could eventually support universal childcare access regardless of family income, though specific services and subsidies will depend on how much revenue is raised. He described the region's childcare shortage as a crisis point for local families.