ColoradoSB26-0192026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Early Childhood Local System Consolidation

Sponsored By: Emily Sirota (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Ryan Gonzalez (Republican), Scott Bright (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Children & Domestic MattersEducation & School Finance (Pre & K-12)

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Councils can submit families’ childcare applications

An early childhood council may accept your family’s Colorado Child Care Assistance Program application and send it to the county. This gives families another route to apply for childcare help. The law does not change who qualifies or the amount of assistance.

Local plans guide help for families

By July 1, 2026, each council’s community plan must cover early childhood and family support services in its area. Plans must explain help with referrals, resources, applications, enrollment, and coordinated outreach. They must cover provider recruitment and coordination to support family choice, plus worker training, recruitment, and retention. Plans must also address access and quality improvements under the Early Childhood Colorado Framework. The Department must manage public funding under council agreements, coordinating with local and tribal agencies when applicable. It may let councils manage funds through those agreements. It must provide funding, training, technical help, collaboration, successful strategies, and feasible help carrying out plans, with required communication, dispute-resolution, and contracting practices.

New councils coordinate early childhood services

The law creates a statewide early childhood council system led by Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood, with other state agencies’ support. Beginning July 1, 2026, it replaces the old local coordinating system and takes over its service duties. Former organizations that are not councils retain duties needed to fulfill agreements already in force before that date. Councils may hire qualifying groups to provide services under approved agreements and Department oversight. Existing service rules remain until replaced, no later than July 1, 2027. Where a council is missing or cannot fully carry out its plan, the Department must preserve services as far as possible. That duty lasts until a council is ready; the transfer itself does not change family eligibility or benefit amounts.

Childhood councils face reviews and audits

The Department must sign council agreements defining duties, work plans, performance measures, and any overhead payments, subject to available funding. First agreements last three years; later agreements last three to five years and are exempt from Colorado’s Procurement Code. By July 1, 2026, councils must set their work plans with the Department, review them yearly, and align performance measures. Councils must follow those plans and monitor quality, workforce development, data reporting, family outreach, rules, agreement terms, and audits. Councils without another yearly audit requirement must arrange an independent financial audit or review each year. By July 1, 2027, the Department must implement yearly performance reviews and seek community input every three to five years. It may require an improvement plan, must provide ongoing help and feedback, and must end agreements without substantial progress within the plan’s deadline.

Council projects get waivers, narrower funding

Councils may seek waivers of rules that block projects in their approved community plans. The executive director grants a waiver upon the Department’s recommendation. For rules outside its authority, the Department assigns a liaison to consult the responsible state agency. Required application rules cover infrastructure, quality improvements, and technical help funded by the early childhood cash fund or other early childhood appropriations. Awards require applications and Department review; evaluation funding is no longer a listed category.

Extra transition time, but one-time funding

The Department may grant one extra transition period when transferred duties need consolidation, reassignment, or major changes. It must end by July 1, 2029, and cannot be extended again. During that period, the Department may keep separate contracts with councils and former-system organizations when needed to coordinate services. Money allocated for the extension is a one-time expense. It cannot fund ongoing programs or raise their regular funding level.

Later preschool funding schedule protects services

The law moves the specified preschool funding schedule’s start from budget year 2023–24 to 2026–27, continuing each year afterward. The Department works with councils under their agreements to distribute money using per-child rates and special-purpose amounts. Initial payments use community plan estimates, or Department estimates where no council exists, and change during the school year with enrollment. Payments are limited to preschool cash-fund appropriations and other funds received under the law. After ensuring direct services for eligible children, the Department may use preschool cash-fund appropriations for council administration directly tied to preschool delivery.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Matthew Martinez
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Cleave Simpson
Republican • Senate
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 93 • No: 23

House vote • 4/21/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 45 • No: 18

House vote • 4/16/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-019 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 11 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/12/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 31 • No: 3

Senate vote • 2/2/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-019, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
5/5/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
4/27/2026Senate
Signed by the Speaker of the House
4/27/2026House
Sent to the Governor
4/27/2026House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/21/2026House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
4/20/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
4/17/2026House
House Committee on Education Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
4/16/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2/12/2026Senate
Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
2/12/2026House
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
2/11/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/11/2026 - No Amendments
2/9/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/09/2026 - No Amendments
2/6/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/06/2026 - No Amendments
2/5/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
2/2/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education
1/14/2026Senate

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Education Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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