ELAA BILL TRACKER
This page will contain details of the bills that the Early Learning Action Alliance (ELAA) is tracking in the 2026 legislative session which began on January 12.
| Bill Number | Position & Description | Status | Current stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 5907 | Support: SB 5907 would allow Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) programs to serve more military families if space allows. Military families who are above the ECEAP income threshold but have a household income that qualifies for the Working Connections subsidy would be eligible for an available ECEAP slot. | Dead | Senate Floor |
| SB 5872 | Support: SB 5872 would establish the Pre-K Promise Account to accept philanthropic investments that are intended to support funding for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| SB 5500 | Support: SB 5500 would require that the biennial report from the Department of Children Youth and Families that includes a market rate survey also include a current cost of quality child care study, as defined by the Early Educator Design Team--a group of 30 child care providers across the state. The study informed by the Design Team includes a cost-estimation model that accounts for the true fixed costs of delivering high‑quality care based on: salaries reflect a living‑wage scale; benefits including paid leave, retirement contributions, and other essential supports; family and staff engagement activities; planning release time; cost for educational materials and curriculum; and professional development supports. In short, the updated definition ensures the model reflects the real cost of a stable, well‑supported early learning workforce. | Dead | House Rules Committee |
| HB 2219 | Support: HB 2219 would help improve efficiencies for child care providers by adjusting time periods for mixed age ratios that allow child care teachers to access meal and rest breaks | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| HB 2317 | Support: HB 2317 would waive licensing requirements for school-day ECEAP and Head Start programs that are located in a public school building or a community or technical college. | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| HB 2318 | Support: HB 2318 would allow Head Start and ECEAP programs to participate in Early Achievers Quality Improvement awards. | Dead | House Fiscal Committee |
| HB 1795 | Support: HB 1795 would reduce student isolation and restraint in public schools, by banning mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and phsyical restraint or escort that is life threatening, and prohibiting the construction, repurposing, or other establishment of any new isolation rooms or enclosed areas for purpose of student isolation. | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| HB 2688 | Oppose: HB 2688 would adjust the funding formula for the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers Program to be separate from the special education multiplier for children ages 3-5. | Dead | House Rules Committee |
| HB 2689 | Monitor:HB 2689 sets Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) reimbursement at the 85th percentile of the 2024 Market Rate Study (MRS) starting 7/1/26 and the 75th percentile of the 2026 MRS starting 7/1/27. Beginning in 2028, regional survey results are only valid for purposes of setting provider reimbursement rates if survey response rates hit 40% and exceed the prior survey's response rates, and once a region reaches 65% response rates, it must maintain at least 65%. This budget also moves to attendance‑based pay for WCCC providers. When a child attends 16+ days, the provider may claim all authorized days; 9-15 days of attendance allows the provier to claim all authorized days or 15 days, whichever is fewer; and 1-8 days of attendance allows the provider to claim all authorized days or 11 days, whichever is fewer. | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| HB 1128 | HB 1128 would establish a workforce standards board to make recommendations for child care staff compensation and working conditions. | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| SB 6353 | SB 6353 would make several changes to Working Connections Child Care, including changing subsidy rate calculations, moving from enrollment-based to attendance-based payments, and striking the planned family eligibility expansions for 2029 and 2031. | Dead | Senate Rules Committee |
| SB 5998 | Monitor: SB 5998 (final conference budget) sets Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) reimbursement at the 85th percentile of the 2024 Market Rate Study (MRS) starting 7/1/26 and the 75th percentile of the 2026 MRS starting 7/1/27. Beginning in 2028, regional survey results are only valid for purposes of setting provider reimbursement rates if survey response rates hit 40% and exceed the prior survey's response rates, and once a region reaches 65% response rates, it must maintain at least 65%. This budget also moves to attendance‑based pay for WCCC providers. When a child attends 16+ days, the provider may claim all authorized days; 9-15 days of attendance allows the provier to claim all authorized days or 15 days, whichever is fewer; and 1-8 days of attendance allows the provider to claim all authorized days or 11 days, whichever is fewer. The budget also cuts professional development funding for providers in half (-$2.15M) and sweeps underspent funding for home visiting (-$2.3M). The budget does not include a cap or a waiting list for WCCC. | Alive | On Governor's Desk |
| HB 2289 | Monitor: HB 2289 sets Working Connections Child Care reimbursement at the 85th percentile of the 2024 Market Rate Study (MRS) starting 7/1/26, and the 75th percentile of the 2026 MRS starting 7/1/27; moves to attendance-based pay for WCCC providers (full month for a child with 10 or fewer absences and half month for a child who attended at least one day but has 11+ absences); and reduces professional development funding by 50% ($2.15M/year). The bill does not include a cap or a waiting list for WCCC. | Dead | House Rules Committee |