Bills › 91st General Assembly
Making children of child care workers eligible for the state child care assistance program
Topics:Health careFamilies & human servicesChild care
Same legislation: HF 2514
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 12, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 12, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 10, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 2514
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 2514 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2514 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Parents or guardians who work at child care centers or homes can qualify for state child care assistance if they work at least 32 hours a week providing direct care to children. These families would still need to make regular copayments as required by the state. The Department of Health and Human Services will create the specific rules for how this program works.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 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; 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.
Changed since by amendment H-8015; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named January 12, 2026. On January 21, 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.3
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