KY HB6 | 2026 | Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 24-3)
Status: Passed on April 14 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-14 - became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 146)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 24-3)
Status: Passed on April 14 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-14 - became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 146)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]
Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 199 related to the quality-based graduated early care and education rating system program to establish the intent of the General Assembly related to the program; establish processes and procedures for how the program is changed by administrative regulation; require a program modernization plan and final recommendations for modernization to be created and submitted to the Legislative Research Commission; amend KRS 199.891 to define terms; create new requirements for how the Cabinet for Health and Family Services establishes and operates the Certified Child Care Community Designation Program; delete language related to a previous 1 time requirement for the cabinet to submit recommendations and best practices to the Legislative Research Commission; establish a new January 1, 2028 submission deadline for the cabinet to make publicly available a standardized application for certification and instructions for the program; establish new requirements for applications by local governments to participate in the program; require an annual report by the Cabinet for Economic Development regarding the program; amend KRS 199.8983 to increase the membership of the Kentucky Child Care Advisory Council; establish that the council shall additionally advise the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on the operations, funding, and licensing of child-care microcenters; create new sections of KRS Chapter 199 to define terms; establish licensure for child-care microcenters; establish the Kentucky Child-Care Microcenter Program to regulate the standards and operations of child-care microcenters; establish early care and education training requirements for licensed child-care providers and certified family child-care home providers; establish that the Education and Labor Cabinet shall compile, produce, and make publicly available a monthly report providing a comprehensive snapshot of all licensed and certified child care services, Head Start services, child care services regulated by the United States Department of Defense, and state-funded public preschool services operating within the Commonwealth; establish a voluntary designation process through which any licensed or certified child-care provider may identify as a faith-based program; require the Office of State Budget Director to produce a comprehensive annual report outlining all state and federal spending on child care and early childhood education services and submit it annually to the Legislative Research Commission; establish that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall submit an approval request to the federal Administration for Children and Families to utilize a cost estimation model to inform payment rates beginning with the fiscal year 2028-2030 Child Care and Development Fund state plan; amend KRS 199.882 to change the definitions of "contribution" and "state match" and define "third-party administrator"; amend KRS 199.883 to establish that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall enter into a contract with a private third-party administrator to administer the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program and establish duties and requirements of the third-party administrator; amend KRS 199.885 to establish the third-party administrator is responsible for issuing state fund matches out of the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership fund; amend KRS 199.886 and 199.887 to specify how employers and employees interact directly with the third-party administrator instead of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Title
AN ACT relating to child care and declaring an emergency.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-03-31 - House - House: Veto Override RCS# 394 (Y: 83 N: 10 NV: 0 Abs: 7) [PASS]
2026-03-31 - Senate - Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4086 (Y: 36 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-17 - House - House: Veto Override RCS# 98 (Y: 84 N: 11 NV: 1 Abs: 4) [PASS]
2026-03-31 - Senate - Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4086 (Y: 36 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-17 - House - House: Veto Override RCS# 98 (Y: 84 N: 11 NV: 1 Abs: 4) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | House | became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 146) |
| 2026-04-01 | House | delivered to Governor |
| 2026-04-01 | House | enrolled, signed by President of the Senate |
| 2026-04-01 | House | enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House |
| 2026-03-31 | House | passed 83-10 |
| 2026-03-31 | House | House concurred in Floor Amendments (1) and (2) |
| 2026-03-31 | House | posted for passage for concurrence in Senate floor amendments (1) and (2) |
| 2026-03-31 | House | to Rules (H) |
| 2026-03-31 | House | received in House |
| 2026-03-31 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed 36-1 with Floor Amendments (1) and (2) |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day |
| 2026-03-26 | Senate | floor amendment (2) filed |
| 2026-03-26 | Senate | passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day |
| 2026-03-24 | Senate | floor amendment (1) filed |
| 2026-03-24 | Senate | posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 26 2026 |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | 2nd reading, to Rules |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | to Families & Children (S) |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | to Committee on Committees (S) |
| 2026-02-18 | Senate | received in Senate |
| 2026-02-17 | House | 3rd reading, passed 84-11 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) |
| 2026-02-13 | House | posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 17 2026 |
| 2026-02-13 | House | 2nd reading, to Rules |
| 2026-02-12 | House | reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) |
| 2026-02-09 | House | to Families & Children (H) |
| 2026-02-02 | House | to Committee on Committees (H) |
| 2026-02-02 | House | introduced in House |
Subjects
Business Entities And Organizations
Children and Minors
Economic Development
Local Government
Reports Mandated
State Agencies
Witnesses
Children and Minors
Economic Development
Local Government
Reports Mandated
State Agencies
Witnesses
