KentuckyHB 62026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to child care and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Samara Heavrin (Republican)

Became Law

Business Entities And OrganizationsChildren And MinorsEconomic DevelopmentLocal GovernmentReports MandatedState AgenciesWitnesses

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

16 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 8 mixed.

Child-care workers get income ignored for aid

The Cabinet may exclude all earned and unearned income when deciding Child Care Assistance Program eligibility for people who meet non-income rules and work in, or own and operate, specified licensed or certified child-care settings. This applies only if funds are available and federal law allows. This helps many child-care workers and owners qualify for help with their own child-care costs.

Income-based employer child care match

The Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership uses an income-based state match on employer child-care help. At or below 100% of the state median income, the state matches up to 100% of the employer amount; the match drops by 10 points every 20% of income up to 180%; above 180% the match is 50%. A private administrator must run the program by December 1, 2026, process contracts, and pay providers. Employers send their contributions to the administrator; the administrator pays the provider with the state match and returns any leftover employer money if a contract ends early. Providers must return funds for services not provided within five days. Employers and providers face firm notice rules when jobs end or payments are missed, with repayments if they fail to notify. Each year, 25% of the fund goes to small-business agreements, and starting FY 2026–27 up to 10% of the fund may be used for administration.

Easier path to open microcenters

The cabinet must make the microcenter application quick and efficient, with a cost‑effective fee. When reviewing eligible applications, it gives priority to centers in opportunity zones or rural areas, those serving nontraditional work hours, and those tied to employers, schools, or faith groups.

Monthly public database of child care

Starting December 1, 2026, the state publishes a monthly, searchable database of licensed and certified child-care, Head Start, DoD child care, and state-funded preschool. It shows provider name, address, license type, capacity, staffing, half- or full-day, and enrollment by age if available, or estimated capacity. Real capacity tracking begins by July 1, 2027, with public updates at least quarterly. A quarterly report comparing supply to potential need starts July 1, 2027. Personal data on children and staff is not released. Providers may add a voluntary faith-based label, but agencies cannot favor or punish based on it.

Communities can earn child care certification

The cabinet runs a Certified Child Care Community program. To get certified, local governments must form a child‑care task force, make a plan, and fix local rule barriers. The cabinet starts taking applications on or after January 1, 2028, and must decide within 30 days. Governments can apply together, and places without KRS Chapter 100 land‑use rules may skip zoning changes. The cabinet posts certified communities and sends the full list to Economic Development each quarter, and that cabinet shares program info with companies seeking state incentives.

New microcenters, but tight caps and rules

The law creates child-care microcenters (4–24 children, more than 3 hours a day) with safety and training standards. The Cabinet must issue rules by July 1, 2027. Applications open no earlier than July 1, 2027, and the Cabinet must decide within 90 days. Only experienced providers (3+ years licensed or certified, in good standing, and in the state quality rating system) can open them. There is a hard cap of 10 microcenters statewide and no more than 2 per county.

More training rules for child‑care staff

New staff and owners who provide care must finish six hours of orientation within three months. All must complete six hours of child development training each year. They must also take 1.5 hours on abusive head trauma once every five years. Each year from July 1 to June 30, licensed providers need at least three hours of special‑needs training; certified family homes need at least two. The cabinet provides a model curriculum and video materials to help meet these rules.

Cost-based rates for child-care subsidies

The Cabinet must seek federal approval to use a cost model to set child-care payment rates starting with the FFY 2028–2030 plan. The model looks at provider type, hours, ages served, location, quality level, staff pay and benefits, facility costs, training, and supplies. The Cabinet must consult the Kentucky Child Care Advisory Council.

Therapists allowed at child-care sites

If your child has an IFSP or IEP and you give written notice describing the services, the child-care provider must allow the diagnostician, therapist, or interventionist on site. The law does not require local school staff to deliver services at the site.

License relief for short programs

Preschool programs that run no more than 20 hours a week are fully exempt if each child attends 10 hours or less a week. If a child attends 11–15 hours a week, the program must tell the cabinet in writing and do staff background and TB checks; other licensing rules do not apply. Out‑of‑school programs that mainly teach a skill are exempt if they do not claim to be licensed, tell parents they are not licensed and about physical risks, and run background checks for staff and volunteers.

Faster Certified Child Care Community applications

Local applicants no longer need area development district approval before applying for Certified Child Care Community status. They can apply directly to the state cabinet, speeding the process.

No corporal punishment in child care

Licensed centers and certified family child-care homes may not use corporal physical discipline, such as spanking, shaking, or paddling. Quick contact to prevent immediate danger is still allowed.

New enforcement rules for child-care centers

When reviewing alleged violations, the Cabinet must weigh factors like self-reporting and corrective actions. During a six‑month probation, it will not issue violations unless directions were knowingly ignored or there is an immediate threat. Centers get five business days to provide requested documents in routine audits. The Cabinet may take emergency action, including suspension; licenses may be revoked if problems are not fixed within 30 calendar days or for listed serious grounds. These rules apply to pending actions on the law’s effective date and all future actions.

Stronger safety checks and center support

Directors and staff who supervise or have direct contact with children must get a criminal record check. Probationary hires may start work, but the check must be requested no later than their first day. The cabinet conducts all inspections without advance notice. Centers on a six‑month preliminary license get at least two support contacts each week, with one in person. The cabinet sets rules to identify child‑care providers who serve during a declared state of emergency.

Flexible microcenter operations and variances

Microcenters do not have to provide meals or transportation. Playgrounds are optional, but active play plans are required. Capacity in mixed-age care is set by the youngest child. Providers can request one site-specific variance per year if it does not harm child health or safety, and only one variance may be active at a time. The Cabinet must run outreach with nonprofits and local referral agencies to publicize the program.

Update and guardrails for quality ratings

By October 1, 2026, the Cabinet must set quality standards for certified family homes and Type II centers. By October 1, 2026, the Cabinet must file a plan to modernize the quality rating system, with final recommendations due December 1, 2027. The Cabinet cannot change the rating program unless the legislature authorizes it or federal law/funding requires it, and it must notify the Interim Joint Committee before federal-related changes. Metrics must protect privacy and account for special needs, child welfare, and low-income children. The Child Care Advisory Council is set at 34 members with clear appointment and representation rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Samara Heavrin
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Amy Neighbors
Republican • House
Beverly Chester-Burton
Democrat • House
Daniel Grossberg
Democrat • House
David Meade
Republican • House
David W. Osborne
Republican • House
DJ Johnson
Republican • House
George Brown Jr.
Democrat • House
Josh Branscum
Republican • House
Jason Nemes
Republican • House
J.T. Payne
Republican • House
Kevin Jackson
Republican • House
Kimberly Poore Moser
Republican • House
Mike Clines
Republican • House
Michael Sarge Pollock
Republican • House
Ryan Bivens
Republican • House
Robert Duvall
Republican • House
Steve Bratcher
Republican • House
Stephanie Dietz
Republican • House
Scott Lewis
Republican • House
Shawn McPherson
Republican • House
Susan Witten
Republican • House
Tony Hampton
Republican • House
Vanessa Grossl
Republican • House
William Lawrence
Republican • House
Walker Thomas
Republican • House
Wade Williams
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 203 • No: 22

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 36 • No: 1

House vote • 3/31/2026

passed

Yes: 83 • No: 10

House vote • 2/17/2026