VirginiaHB182026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Employee Child Care Assistance Program; established, reports.

Sponsored By: Adele Y. McClure (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Employee Child Care Assistance Program established. Establishes the Employee Child Care Assistance Program to provide matching funds in order to incentivize employers to contribute to the child care costs of their employees. The Program shall be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. To participate in the Program, an employer shall agree to make child care contributions to the eligible mixed delivery provider on behalf of the employee or to a third-party administrator, as defined by the bill, and shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the Foundation. The bill specifies that, to the extent funds are available, the Foundation shall issue a state match to a third-party administrator. Program funds shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; however, the bill clarifies that the Foundation is encouraged to prioritize awards to proposals involving contributions from small businesses. The bill requires the Foundation to provide an interim report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2028, and a summative report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2030, on the effectiveness and impact of the Program. This bill is identical to SB 3.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Employer child care help with state match

The law creates a program that helps pay for child care when your employer chips in. The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation runs it and adds a state match set in the budget. Help goes only to eligible mixed‑delivery child care providers or through an approved administrator. The state budget sets who qualifies and how much families must pay. The program can also take funds from nonprofits, military programs, local governments, or economic development groups to add slots, and it runs only while funds are appropriated.

Small businesses get priority for slots

Awards are first‑come, first‑served. The Foundation is encouraged to prioritize proposals that include small business contributions. A small business has fewer than 50 employees.

Program aligns with mixed delivery, funds roll over

The Foundation can combine this program with mixed‑delivery child care efforts. Unspent money on June 30, 2027 and June 30, 2028 does not revert; it stays available for this program through June 30, 2030. The Foundation must report on results by September 1, 2028, and give a final report by September 1, 2030.

How employers join the child care program

To take part, an employer agrees to pay toward an employee’s child care and share needed info with the Foundation. An employer qualifies if it had at least one worker in Virginia in 20 or more weeks this year or last year. Only Foundation‑approved third‑party administrators, including Ready Region lead agencies, can handle program funds and receive state matches.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adele Y. McClure

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 213 • No: 7

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/6/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 91 • No: 7

House vote 2/2/2026

Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s)

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/30/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 6 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0545)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 545 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/25/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    3/25/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB18)

    3/16/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB18ER)

    3/14/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/14/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/14/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/14/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/9/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  13. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/5/2026Senate
  14. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  15. Rules suspended

    3/5/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    3/4/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

    2/9/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/9/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (91-Y 7-N 0-A)

    2/6/2026House
  20. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/6/2026House
  21. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB18)

    2/5/2026House
  22. Engrossed by House as amended

    2/5/2026House
  23. committee amendments agreed to

    2/5/2026House
  24. Read second time

    2/5/2026House
  25. Read first time

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

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