VirginiaSB1342026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Public education; early childhood care and education, child care access calculations, report.

Sponsored By: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Public education; early childhood care and education; child care access calculations; report. Requires the Department of Education to establish and maintain calculations for the provision of early childhood care and education services based on cost of quality rate per child, actual data from the prior year, an estimate of parental demand and choice preferences based on historic growth trends and current eligibility criteria, and an estimate of the number of slots to be added to support local or regional economic development efforts and public-private partnerships focused on increasing the supply of child care services, giving priority to localities or regions identified as child care deserts, as determined by the Department. The bill also contains several provisions relating to the use and appropriation of funds as applicable to such calculations, including (i) providing that the calculations shall not obligate the General Assembly to a specific appropriation, (ii) requiring the calculations to be used to provide information to guide the General Assembly in making decisions about the proportion of parental demand for and supply of early childhood care and education services to be addressed and level of appropriation required to address such demand, and (iii) providing that the annual overall funding available for slots shall be subject to appropriation as determined by the General Assembly. The bill also provides that if waitlists for slots at early childhood care and education sites remain, up to $5 million from prior-year unexpended state general funds appropriated for such purpose in a general appropriation act may be carried forward to the current fiscal year to temporarily provide additional slots during the current fiscal year solely to reduce or eliminate waitlists, unless the general appropriation act authorizes a greater amount to be carried forward and that such prior-year funds shall not be used to increase the base amount of funding required in the subsequent fiscal year and the Department shall monitor program utilization and attrition to ensure that no families will lose access at the end of the current fiscal year. Finally, the bill requires the Department to annually submit to the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education and post on its website a report on the data used to calculate the minimum funding and number of slots for the calculations in accordance with the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to HB 1208.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More child care slots in target areas

By May 15 each year, regions, school divisions, and localities report how many slots they need for Mixed Delivery, VPI, and the subsidy. The Department, working with economic development and business partners, calculates extra slots for regions with job‑growth projects, public‑private efforts, or child care deserts. Child care deserts get priority when adding slots. This aims to grow access where families need it most.

Reallocated slots and $5M to cut waitlists

By July 1, the Department reallocates available subsidy and mixed‑delivery slots to meet regional needs. After fall enrollment, it adjusts based on family preferences. If waitlists remain after using current‑year state funds, up to $5 million in prior‑year state funds can be carried forward to add temporary slots. These carryforward funds cannot raise next year’s base funding. The Department monitors use so families do not lose care when temporary funds end.

Unified early childhood system for families

The law creates a single public–private early childhood care and education system run by the Board, Superintendent, and Department of Education. It coordinates referrals, quality information, and improvement across programs statewide. Families can get services through the Virginia Preschool Initiative, licensed providers, and approved unlicensed programs. The goal is easier access to affordable, high‑quality care and preschool.

Who qualifies for child care subsidy

The Child Care Subsidy is open to each child under 13 in your family. Your income must be at or below 85% of the state median. Your household must include at least one child age 0–5 who has not started kindergarten, and you must meet other program rules. The Department updates per‑child costs each year and uses federal funds before state dollars.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mamie E. Locke

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 387 • No: 54

Senate vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote 3/14/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 85 • No: 12

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Senate acceded to request Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 39

House vote 2/25/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 93 • No: 3

House vote 2/20/2026

Reported from Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Education and Health Substitute rejected

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0457)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 457 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB134)

    3/31/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB134ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026Senate
  11. Conference report agreed to by House (85-Y 12-N 0-A)

    3/14/2026House
  12. Conference Report released

    3/14/2026
  13. House Conferees: Sewell, Askew, Kent

    3/10/2026House
  14. Conferees appointed by House

    3/10/2026House
  15. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  16. Senate Conferees: Locke, Favola, Pillion

    3/4/2026Senate
  17. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/4/2026Senate
  18. House requested conference committee

    3/2/2026House
  19. House insisted on substitute

    3/2/2026House
  20. House substitute rejected by Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  21. Passed House with substitute (93-Y 3-N 0-A)

    2/25/2026House
  22. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/25/2026House
  23. committee substitute agreed to

    2/25/2026House
  24. Read third time

    2/25/2026House
  25. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/25/2026House

Bill Text

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