Relating to child care; and prescribing an effective date.
Summary
] [ Requires the Department of Early Learning and Care to study child care. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to child care no later than September 15, 2027. ] [ Sunsets on January 2, 2028. ] Allows the Early Learning Council to modify the priority given to families receiving temporary assistance for needy families for participation in the Employment Related Day Care subsidy program. Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to convene a work group to study the cost and availability of liability insurance and other liability issues for child care providers. Identifies work group participants. Directs the work group to report to the Legislative Assembly on options to increase child care provider access to liability insurance, to reduce the financial burden of liability insurance on child care providers and to use other strategies to address liability issues for child care providers. Requires the work group to submit the report to the Legislative Assembly by November 1, 2027. Sunsets the work group on January 2, 2029. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026
Signed Mar 31, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
A-Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Mar 31, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized into its enrolled version, removing editorial summaries and formatting notes while retaining the core policy text. The substantive content remains identical to the previous version, establishing new rules for child care subsidies, eligibility criteria, and reimbursement rates without any changes to the actual policy provisions.
TECHNICAL
Removed the 'A-Engrossed' header, editorial summary, and legislative notes that were present in the working draft but are not part of the final law.
Added the 'Enrolled' header and official chapter placeholder to indicate the bill has passed both houses and is ready for the governor.
Adjusted line numbers and page references to match the final enrolled format, while the legal text of the act itself remains unchanged.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026
How they voted
24–1
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 30
Feb 27, 2026
D
Democratic18
94% Yea
R
Republican12
58% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Mar 31, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Ruiz. Passed.
lower
Feb 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Anderson. Passed.
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned to Full Committee.
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Subcommittee On Education.
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means by order of the President.
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be referred to Ways and Means. (Printed A-Eng.)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to Early Childhood and Behavioral Health.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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