New child care legislation introduced during the 2026 session seeks to strengthen Kentucky’s child care system for working families, local communities, and employers.
Ahead of filing House Bill 6 and House Joint Resolution 50, Representative Samara Heavrin, chair of the House Families and Children Committee, sat down with The Bottom Line to discuss the child care challenges facing Kentucky families and the process that has led to this legislative proposal.
Heavrin said her focus on child care intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when workforce participation lagged, and lack of access to child care emerged as a key barrier for working families, particularly parents looking to return to work.
She said many child care options fail to align with standard work schedules or nontraditional hours, limiting availability for families even when care may be affordable.
Momentum around child care policy increased following the Kentucky Chamber’s convening of the Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care in June 2024, she said. The 18-month effort brought together stakeholders from different perspectives and across sectors to identify shared, workable solutions.
Those recommendations now serve as the foundation for House Bill 6 and House Joint Resolution 50 and will continue to serve as a framework for continued progress, she said
This legislation aims to strengthen key areas surrounding the private child care system, including regulatory reform, modernization of the All STARS quality rating system, improvements to the Employee Child Care Assistance Program, and more.
Stay tuned to The Bottom Line as House Bill 6 moves through the legislative process.
Be the first to comment on "Consensus-Driven Child Care Legislation Takes Shape in 2026 Session"