SB 1609 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Summary

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement an Early Learning Services Contracts Program to make available a designated number of seats at licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1609_HD1 → SB1609_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from a fixed number of childcare seats to a flexible system where the Department of Human Services contracts with providers at negotiated rates for families referred by the department. The scope of eligible providers was broadened to include regulated centers beyond just licensed ones, and the program's specific requirement to cover one full classroom per county was removed in favor of a more general provision. The sunset date and effective date text were also adjusted to align with the new version of the bill.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a fixed-seat pilot program to a flexible referral-based contract program, and the list of eligible providers was broadened to include regulated centers.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the program model from providing a 'designated number of seats' to contracting with providers at 'negotiated rates and schedule' for families referred by the department.

Broadened eligible providers from specific 'licensed infant and toddler' and 'group' centers to 'licensed or regulated child care programs' per county.

Removed the specific mandate to provide contracts for 'at least one full classroom' per county, replacing it with a general requirement to provide contracts for at least one program per county.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header, revision numbers, and metadata to reflect the Senate Draft (SD1) version.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1213) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 60) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 595) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors