Nebraska spends nearly $95 million a year on child-care subsidies for working, low-income families — but the state isn’t tracking the quality of care those children receive.

Lawmakers gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill that would measure and rate child-care providers if they collect at least $250,000 annually.

Last year, 62 private providers met that threshold. They serve more than 12,000 children, at a combined state cost of $27 million.

The bill would also expand eligibility. Current law allows a family of three to qualify if they make less than $23,400 a year. The bill would increase the maximum income to nearly $25,400 by 2015.

Sen. Kathy Campbell says the state needs to look beyond safety and health standards for early childhood care.