The 2026 Legislative Session is entering its first round of cutoffs, which are critical deadlines for bills to progress. The initial cutoffs occurred last week, with the next significant ones scheduled for February 4, 9, and 17. During these cutoffs, bills must pass their original policy and fiscal committees and receive a full chamber vote to remain viable.
Several key bills are under consideration. HB 2219 aims to enhance operational efficiency for child care providers, allowing mixed-age groups under certain conditions. HB 2688 proposes a 17% cut to the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers program, returning funding to 2008 levels, which has sparked opposition from early learning advocates. SB 5500 seeks to include a cost of quality child care study in biennial reports, while SB 6346 proposes a 9.9% tax on income over $1 million starting in 2028, expected to raise $3.7 billion.
State budget bills include HB 2289 and SB 5998, which propose significant reductions to the Working Connections Child Care subsidy. Legislators will hold town halls in the coming weeks for public input on early learning funding. Community members are encouraged to participate in advocacy efforts and stay informed through social media and advocacy pods.