# Virginia HB1959: Child Care Subsidy Program waiting list; target timeline for assigning slots to priority groups.

Virginia HB1959, Child Care Subsidy Program waiting list; target timeline for assigning slots to priority groups., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-17 (Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations with letter (12-Y 2-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1959-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1959
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Child Care Subsidy Program waiting list; target timeline for assigning slots to priority groups.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-02-17, Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations with letter (12-Y 2-N)
- Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (138 yes, 17 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Department of Education; Child Care Subsidy Program waiting list; additional priority group; target timeline for assigning slots to priority groups. Requires the Department of Education to amend its Child Care Subsidy Program Guidance Manual to add a seventh priority group to the Child Care Subsidy Program waiting list that consists of any family that meets all other Program eligibility criteria and includes a parent who is employed for at least 30 hours per week by a publicly funded child care provider in the Commonwealth that serves children from birth to age five, excluding employment by a local school division but including employment by a Head Start program that is located within a public school building. The bill also directs the Department of Education to require local departments of social services to target a maximum of 30 days for moving priority group families from the waiting list into services; regularly assess, in coordination with the Department of Social Services, the length of time it takes for priority groups to be assigned slots; and provide quarterly updates, beginning October 1, 2025, to the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education on such timeline and any other barriers experienced by families in priority groups on the waiting list in accessing services.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-17 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations with letter | pass | 12 | 2 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 85 | 12 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Education | pass | 20 | 2 |   |
| 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting and referred to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 1 | 1 |

## Actions (14)

- 2025-02-17: Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations with letter (12-Y 2-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (85-Y 12-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2025-01-31: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Education (20-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting and referred to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1959) (House)
- 2025-01-21: Assigned Educ sub: Early Childhood (House)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104417D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014184.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014183.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014184.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014183.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1959-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).