VirginiaSB32026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Employee Child Care Assistance Program; established, reports.

Sponsored By: Lashrecse D. Aird (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 HB 18.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Employer-backed child care help for families

The law creates a program that matches employer payments toward employees’ child care. The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation runs it and pays the state match to an approved administrator. Who can get help and the family share are set in the state budget. Money is limited and first-come, first-served. Your family benefits only if your employer participates and funds are available.

Small employers get priority, must contribute

To take part, an employer must pay toward workers’ child care, either to a provider or an approved administrator, and provide needed information. An employer qualifies if it has at least one worker in Virginia in 20 or more weeks this year or last. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees get priority for matching funds, but awards are first-come, first-served. Joining can add employer costs, but brings state matching help for employees’ child care.

Unspent child care funds stay through 2030

Unspent program money on June 30, 2027 or June 30, 2028 does not return to the general fund. It stays available for this program through June 30, 2030. The Foundation can also combine this program with other mixed-delivery early childhood efforts to coordinate services.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lashrecse D. Aird

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 249 • No: 4

Senate vote 2/27/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote 2/25/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 94 • No: 4

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 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0546)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 546 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB3)

    3/4/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB3ER)

    3/4/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/4/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/4/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/4/2026House
  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  11. Passed House with substitute (94-Y 4-N 0-A)

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

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

    2/25/2026House
  14. Read third time

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

    2/25/2026House
  16. Read second time

    2/24/2026House
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB3)

    2/24/2026Senate
  18. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

    2/20/2026House
  19. Committee substitute printed 26108281D-H1

    2/20/2026House
  20. Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education

    2/18/2026House
  21. Referred to Committee on Appropriations

    2/18/2026House
  22. Read first time

    2/18/2026House
  23. Placed on Calendar

    2/18/2026House
  24. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/13/2026Senate
  25. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

    2/12/2026Senate

Bill Text

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