Bills › 91st General Assembly
Making children of child care workers in this state eligible for the state child care assistance program
Sponsored by the House Health and Human Services Committee
Topics:Families & human servicesChild care
Same legislation: HSB 500
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 12, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 12, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 23, 202686–3
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 12, 2026
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 30, 202646–0
- Done: To the GovernorApril 8, 2026
- Done: Signed into lawApril 9, 2026
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Parents or guardians who work at least 32 hours a week providing direct childcare at a licensed facility can qualify for state childcare assistance. To get this help, the childcare provider must have an agreement with the state to accept program payments. Families using this program will still be responsible for making required copayments.1
Read the official explanation
14 (child care assistance —— graduated eligibility phase-out) if a parent, guardian, or custodian of the child is employed at a child care facility or child care home in this state that has an agreement with the department of health and human services (HHS) to accept reimbursement from the CCA program; works an average minimum of 32 hours per week in a position with a primary duty of providing child care directly to children in this state; and meets several other requirements specified in the bill. A parent, guardian, or custodian of a child participating in the CCA program under the bill shall make copayments as specified by HHS by rule. The bill requires HHS to adopt rules to administer the bill.
Why it matters. Parents, guardians, or custodians who work directly providing child care at facilities or homes that accept state reimbursement can qualify for the state child care assistance program for their children. The Department of Health and Human Services would create rules to manage this program, which has an estimated total cost of $11.7 million for fiscal year 2027 and $12.1 million for fiscal year 2028.2
Changed since by amendment H-8015; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 3, 2026. On March 10, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
10 written public comments to its subcommittee: March 10, 2026 (9), January 21, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill makes children of people working in child care facilities or homes eligible for the State child care assistance program and requires an annual report on the workforce. The total estimated cost is $11.7 million for fiscal year 2027 and $12.1 million for fiscal year 2028. The state's General Fund would pay $7.0 million in fiscal year 2027 and $7.3 million in fiscal year 2028, with the remaining costs covered by federal funds.4
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 2514 establishes that a child of a parent, guardian, or custodian who is employed at a child care facility or child care home is eligible for the State child care assistance (CCA) program and requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report to the General Assembly regarding CCA for the child care workforce by December 1 of each year.
Background
The HHS established a CCA pilot program in FY 2024, which allowed individuals with children employed in the child care workforce to apply for the CCA program without regard to income limits. To be eligible for the CCA pilot program, the employed individual must work at least 32 hours per week in a direct care position at a licensed child care center, be registered as a child development home provider, or be a nonregistered child care home accepting CCA assistance. The family must also meet all other CCA eligibility criteria, excluding household income. The CCA pilot program is currently set to expire on July 1, 2026.
As of February 9, 2026, 2,105 families have participated in the CCA pilot program. The average participating family’s income is 302.0% of the federal poverty level (FPL). In FY 2025, expenditures for the CCA pilot program totaled $9.7 million.
Assumptions
- The average number of children per month enrolled in the CCA program with a parent, guardian, or custodian employed at a child care facility or child care home will be 1,659.
- Based on the HHS’s most recent CCA projections, the average monthly cost per child is estimated to be $589.72 for FY 2027 and $607.41 for FY 2028.
- The State will pay for 60.0% of all costs associated with implementing the Bill, while federal funds will provide for 40.0% of the costs.
Fiscal Impact
The total cost of HF 2514 is estimated to be $11.7 million for FY 2027, of which the State cost is $7.0 million and the federal cost is $4.7 million. The total cost for FY 2028 is estimated to be $12.1 million, of which the State cost is $7.3 million and the federal cost is $4.8 million.
Source
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Final Fiscal Note — Child Care Assistance for Child Care Workers · May 20, 2026
- Child Care Assistance for Child Care Workers · February 20, 2026
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91st General Assembly