Child Care Innovation Advancement Act of 2026

The Child Care Innovation Advancement Act of 2026 creates a five-year pilot program to help non-home-based child care providers, such as those in commercial spaces or community centers, purchase nutritious meals for children. Under this initiative, eligible and licensed programs can receive federal reimbursements for food costs at the same rate currently given to family day care homes. To ensure proper use of funds, the bill mandates regular audits by the Department of Agriculture, requiring the exclusion of programs with unresolved audit findings for two years. Additionally, the program includes measures to prevent duplicate payments and requires a final evaluation report to Congress after the pilot period ends.