# Colorado SB26-020: Child Care Provider Licensing & Quality Colorado SB26-020, Child Care Provider Licensing & Quality, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Emily Sirota (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Ryan Gonzalez (Republican) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2026-06-01 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-020-2026A - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Colorado SB26-020 - State: Colorado - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Child Care Provider Licensing & Quality - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-14 - Last action: 2026-06-01, Governor Signed - Sponsors: Emily Sirota (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Ryan Gonzalez (Republican), Scott Bright (Republican) - Cosponsors: 29 - Subjects: Children & Domestic Matters, Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 9 (185 yes, 29 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Priority approvals and capped child care fees: benefit, low. Local authorities must prioritize child care approvals when rules beyond state standards have caused disputes or delays. They must finish as reasonably practical, with a nine-month goal rather than a guaranteed deadline. Fees for approvals required only by local rules must stay within a reasonable… - More consistent state child care inspections: benefit, low. Colorado's Department of Early Childhood must set common training, inspection procedures, and supervision for licensing staff and contractors. These standards aim to make licensing decisions and enforcement more consistent statewide. By July 1, 2026, the department must begin replacing outside lice… - Child care providers must update employee records: cost, low. Colorado's Department of Early Childhood must adopt rules requiring licensed child care facilities to keep employee records current. Facilities must use the department's professional development information system. The law sets no fee or direct payment to families for this requirement. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Emily Sirota (Democratic), House - Sponsor: Matt Ball (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Ryan Gonzalez (Republican), House - Sponsor: Scott Bright (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Andrew Boesenecker (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chad Clifford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Eliza Hamrick (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Bacon (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jamie Jackson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Julie McCluskie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jacque Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyle Brown (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kenny Nguyen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lori Goldstein (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Monica Duran (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mandy Lindsay (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Manny Rutinel (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sheila Lieder (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Tisha Mauro (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Tammy Story (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Yara Zokaie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sen. A. Benavidez - Cosponsor: Cathy Kipp (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Iman Jodeh (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Judy Amabile (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: James Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Julie Gonzales (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Janice Marchman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Katie Wallace (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tony Exum (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: William Lindstedt (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-08 | Senate | House amendments: Repass | pass | 32 | 2 | | | 2026-05-08 | Senate | House amendments: Concur | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-05-07 | House | Third reading: Bill | pass | 48 | 16 | | | 2026-05-06 | House | Refer Senate Bill 26-020 to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 9 | 2 | | | 2026-04-30 | House | Refer Senate Bill 26-020 to the Committee on Appropriations. | pass | 7 | 3 | | | 2026-04-23 | House | Refer Senate Bill 26-020, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. | pass | 11 | 2 | | | 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 31 | 4 | | | 2026-04-10 | Senate | Refer Senate Bill 26-020 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Refer Senate Bill 26-020, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | pass | 6 | 0 | | ## Actions (17) - 2026-06-01: Governor Signed (House) - 2026-05-22: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-05-22: Signed by the Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-05-22: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2026-05-08: Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass (Senate) - 2026-05-07: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2026-05-06: House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole (House) - 2026-05-06: House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee (House) - 2026-04-30: House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations (House) - 2026-04-23: House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Finance (House) - 2026-04-13: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Introduced In House - Assigned to Education (House) - 2026-04-10: Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114370/download) - Final Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116627/download) - House Education Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115313/download) - Introduced: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/110719/download) - Reengrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114472/download) - Rerevised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116073/download) - Revised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115975/download) - Senate Education Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112654/download) - Signed Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116928/download) ## Related bills - HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements (signed) - HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture (signed) - HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests (signed) - HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments (signed) - SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise (signed) - HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114370/download) - [Final Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116627/download) - [House Education Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115313/download) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/110719/download) - [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114472/download) - [Rerevised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116073/download) - [Revised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115975/download) - [Senate Education Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112654/download) - [Signed Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116928/download) ## Related - [HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1298-2026A) - [HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1250-2026A) - [HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1414-2026A) - [HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1430-2026A) - [SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-155-2026A) - [HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1429-2026A) - [Colorado bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado/bills) - [Colorado state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-020-2026A (as of 2026-10-19).