All Roll Calls
Yes: 0 • No: 0
ConnecticutSB 001372026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.
Sponsored By: Education Committee
Signed by Governor
Summary
To implement the recommendations of the Office of Early Childhood.
education
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Higher preschool grants for school boards
Beginning July 1, 2026, annual Smart Start preschool grant caps rise from $5,000 to $6,500 per child. The alternative classroom cap rises from $75,000 to $97,500. Local and regional school boards can receive operating grants annually for five years for preschool programs they establish or expand. Programs must meet standards set by the Commissioner of Early Childhood. These are program grants, not payments to families or a guarantee of lower family costs.
Updated background checks for child care
Beginning July 1, 2026, covered child care providers and staff need comprehensive background checks at least every five years. Checks cover state and national criminal records and sex-offender registries. Child abuse and neglect checks cover Connecticut and every other state where the person lived during the past five years. Covered groups include specified employees, volunteers, program staff, assistants, substitutes, and household members. The provider definition excludes unlicensed subsidy-program care given only to related children. Current Connecticut child care workers can avoid immediate repeat fingerprinting if their checks are under five years old and employment breaks do not exceed 180 days. The commissioner can still require additional checks, and an approved medical waiver allows a name-and-birth-date state criminal check instead of fingerprints.
Child care reporting expands; household coverage narrows
Beginning July 1, 2026, center and group-home licensees must immediately report known convictions or child abuse registry placements involving owners, operators, or care-related employees. Family child care applicants, licensees, and approved assistants or substitutes have the same reporting duty for covered owners, household members, and care-related employees. Reports go to the Commissioner of Early Childhood. For specified family-home licensing and reporting rules, the household-member age rises from 16 to 18. That definition covers residents other than the licensee, so 16- and 17-year-old residents no longer count. Failure to report can lead to license or approval action and civil penalties up to $100 per day.
Emergency alerts help protect camp children
Beginning October 1, 2026, youth camp licensees must submit written camp names, addresses, and phone numbers to the Office of Early Childhood. They must verify and update those details as needed. Under an agreement, the office shares the information with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The emergency notification system alerts licensees about nearby emergencies that may endanger children at camp.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Education Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Kenneth Gucker
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/18/2026
House Roll Call Vote 301 AS AMENDED
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2026
Senate Roll Call Vote 214
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2026
ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor
6/4/2026legislatureTransmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
5/26/2026legislatureTransmitted to the Secretary of State
5/26/2026legislaturePublic Act 26-105
5/19/2026legislatureIn Concurrence
5/6/2026legislatureHouse Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
5/6/2026HouseHouse Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A
5/6/2026HouseHouse Calendar Number 546
5/1/2026HouseFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
5/1/2026HouseRules Suspended, Transmitted to the House
4/30/2026HouseSenate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
4/30/2026SenateSenate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 4116
4/30/2026SenateFile Number 492
4/8/2026legislatureSenate Calendar Number 304
4/8/2026SenateFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
4/8/2026SenateReported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
4/8/2026legislatureReferred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 5:00 PM
3/31/2026legislatureFiled with Legislative Commissioners' Office
3/23/2026legislatureJoint Favorable Substitute
3/18/2026legislaturePublic Hearing 02/20
2/13/2026legislatureReferred to Joint Committee on Education
2/11/2026legislature
Bill Text
Public Act No. 26-105
4/30/2026
File No. 492
4/8/2026
ED Joint Favorable Substitute
3/18/2026
Raised Bill
2/11/2026
Bill Analysis For File Copy 492
Bill Analysis for SB-137, as amended by Senate "A"
ED Joint Fav. Rpt
ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Fiscal Note For File Copy 492
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4116 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for SB-137, As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 4116)
House Roll Call Vote 301 AS AMENDED
Senate Roll Call Vote 214
Senate Schedule A LCO# 4116 (J)
Summary for Public Act No. 26-105
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