Children; sunset; creating the Teacher Recrutiment and Retention Program; income exemption; child care subsidy program; notice to Department of Human Services; effective date.

Lower child care costs for workers

Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma's Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program helps qualifying child care workers pay for child care. Workers must average at least 20 hours weekly, measured monthly, at a licensed facility participating in the subsidy program. Their duties must involve child care, supervision, education, or on-site work supporting daily operations. Entry requires meeting the income limits below or having children attend a program participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program. The special income limits are $120,000 in annual gross household income for two-parent households and $60,000 for single-parent households. Workers within those limits can participate even above the subsidy program's usual income limits. Their household income is ignored only when calculating cost-sharing or co-payments, and subsidy-eligible workers have their co-payments waived. Workers already eligible under ordinary income rules receive a separate co-payment waiver rather than the special income exemption. Other subsidy eligibility rules still apply, and providers must notify the Department of Human Services in writing within 30 days after a worker leaves employment. The Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness runs the program under the department's direction; the department must issue implementation and enforcement rules. The program sunsets November 1, 2028.