Legislation / childcare providers · Rate transparency & zoning · Updated 2026-09-18
Childcare Subsidy Reimbursement-Rate Transparency: What Providers Can Cite After 2026 Bills
Quick answer: This page tracks reimbursement-rate transparency, rate-setting process, and zoning barriers for childcare providers — not subsidy waitlists or funded-slot cuts. California AB1981 (reimbursement rates: reporting) is enrolled and was presented to the Governor on 2026-09-14; as of 2026-09-18 it is not signed/chaptered — enrolled ≠ law. Kentucky HB6 became law without signature on 2026-04-14 (Acts Ch. 146): quality-rating process rules, microcenter licensure, public childcare snapshots, and a directive to seek ACF approval for a cost-estimation model to inform CCDF payment rates starting with the FY2028–2030 state plan. New Hampshire HB1195 (Ch. 217, signed 2026-07-02, effective 2026-07-01) reduces municipal zoning barriers so licensed child care centers are generally allowed by right on commercial land, and family/group care by right where residential use is already permitted.
Different from our waitlists/funding tracker: Childcare Subsidy Waitlists & Provider Funding: 2026 Tracker covers selected-state waitlists and funding/enrollment status. This page is about what providers can cite on how rates are reported/set and where they may locate. Also distinct from the employer §45F employer childcare credit by state and from daycare wage-vs-price pages.
Not legal advice. Proposed/enrolled ≠ law. Reimbursement formulas live in agency schedules (CCDF / human-services bulletins), not bill titles alone.
Featured provider-facing changes
| State | Bucket | What changed | Operator note | Bills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | enrolled awaiting signature | AB1981 (Subsidized childcare: reimbursement rates: reporting) amends WIC §§10213.5 and 10227.6 and adds §10227.7. Digest: extends CDSS quarterly reimbursement-rate reporting (timeline to JLBC on rate transition; quarterly reports continue until 2026-07-01→2028 per enrolled draft) and adjusts alternative-methodology rate-transition notice rules. Urgency clause in description. Enrolled and presented to the Governor 2026-09-14 — NOT chaptered/signed as of this page date. | Watch Governor action + CDSS rate bulletins; cite agency published rates for contracting, not bill headlines | AB1981 bill_id 2117140 — LegiScan status Enrolled (3) status_date 2026-08-31; presented to Governor 2026-09-14 |
| Kentucky | enacted rate process | HB6 became law without Governor's signature 2026-04-14 (Acts Ch. 146). Quality-based graduated early care & education rating system: GA intent + admin-regulation change process; program modernization plan to LRC; Certified Child Care Community Designation Program modernization (standardized application public by 2028-01-01); child-care microcenter licensure; monthly public snapshot of licensed/certified/Head Start/DoD/public preschool services; OSBD annual state/federal childcare spending report; Cabinet must seek ACF approval to use a cost estimation model to inform payment rates beginning with the FY2028–2030 CCDF state plan; Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership moves to a third-party administrator. | Budget for quality-rating participation and microcenter pathway; watch CHFS payment-rate methodology updates tied to CCDF plan — formulas live in agency schedules | HB6 bill_id 2104106 — Passed; became law without signature 2026-04-14 (Acts Ch. 146) |
| New Hampshire | enacted zoning provider | HB1195 — municipal zoning for child day care providers. Signed by Governor Ayotte 2026-07-02; Chapter 217; effective 2026-07-01. Defines child care centers for local zoning; with limited exception, municipalities shall allow a child care center by right on commercially zoned land if DHHS licensing rules (He-C 4002) are met. On lots where residential use is permitted, family or group family child care allowed by right in the primary or an existing accessory structure (per enrolled/final analysis). | New family/group and commercial-zone centers: confirm local zoning staff use Ch. 217 by-right rules; still need DHHS license + ordinary site permits | HB1195 bill_id 2054158 — Passed; Chapter 217; signed 2026-07-02; eff. 2026-07-01 |
Operator checklist
- California: Do not treat AB1981 as law until signed/chaptered. Continue citing current CDSS subsidized-childcare reimbursement schedules for contracts; watch JLBC/CDSS reporting changes if/when the urgency bill is chaptered.
- Kentucky: Read Acts Ch. 146 for quality-rating change procedures, microcenter licensing, and the CCDF cost-estimation payment-rate path (FY2028–2030 plan). Actual $/day rates still come from CHFS / CCDF schedules.
- New Hampshire: For new or expanding centers, cite Ch. 217 by-right commercial zoning (and family/group residential by-right) with DHHS He-C 4002 licensing — local building/fire rules still apply.
- Need waitlist / funded-enrollment status instead? Use the companion subsidy waitlists & provider funding tracker.
- Employers (not providers) looking at tax credits: employer childcare credit by state (§45F).
All 51 statuses (curated)
| Abbr | State | Bucket | Bills |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | Alabama | no curated change | — |
| AK | Alaska | no curated change | — |
| AZ | Arizona | no curated change | — |
| AR | Arkansas | no curated change | — |
| CA | California | enrolled awaiting signature | AB1981 bill_id 2117140 — LegiScan status Enrolled (3) status_date 2026-08-31; presented to Governor 2026-09-14 |
| CO | Colorado | no curated change | — |
| CT | Connecticut | no curated change | — |
| DE | Delaware | no curated change | — |
| DC | District of Columbia | no curated change | — |
| FL | Florida | no curated change | — |
| GA | Georgia | no curated change | — |
| HI | Hawaii | no curated change | — |
| ID | Idaho | no curated change | — |
| IL | Illinois | no curated change | — |
| IN | Indiana | no curated change | — |
| IA | Iowa | no curated change | — |
| KS | Kansas | no curated change | — |
| KY | Kentucky | enacted rate process | HB6 bill_id 2104106 — Passed; became law without signature 2026-04-14 (Acts Ch. 146) |
| LA | Louisiana | no curated change | — |
| ME | Maine | no curated change | — |
| MD | Maryland | no curated change | — |
| MA | Massachusetts | no curated change | — |
| MI | Michigan | no curated change | — |
| MN | Minnesota | no curated change | — |
| MS | Mississippi | no curated change | — |
| MO | Missouri | no curated change | — |
| MT | Montana | no curated change | — |
| NE | Nebraska | no curated change | — |
| NV | Nevada | no curated change | — |
| NH | New Hampshire | enacted zoning provider | HB1195 bill_id 2054158 — Passed; Chapter 217; signed 2026-07-02; eff. 2026-07-01 |
| NJ | New Jersey | no curated change | — |
| NM | New Mexico | no curated change | — |
| NY | New York | no curated change | — |
| NC | North Carolina | no curated change | — |
| ND | North Dakota | no curated change | — |
| OH | Ohio | no curated change | — |
| OK | Oklahoma | no curated change | — |
| OR | Oregon | no curated change | — |
| PA | Pennsylvania | no curated change | — |
| RI | Rhode Island | no curated change | — |
| SC | South Carolina | no curated change | — |
| SD | South Dakota | no curated change | — |
| TN | Tennessee | no curated change | — |
| TX | Texas | no curated change | — |
| UT | Utah | no curated change | — |
| VT | Vermont | no curated change | — |
| VA | Virginia | no curated change | — |
| WA | Washington | no curated change | — |
| WV | West Virginia | no curated change | — |
| WI | Wisconsin | no curated change | — |
| WY | Wyoming | no curated change | — |
Download: childcare-reimbursement-rate-transparency-by-state.csv (LegiScan data CC BY 4.0; cite LegiScan + state legislature / CCDF agency).
Methods & fences
- LegiScan
getBill: CA AB1981 (2117140) enrolled/presented Governor 2026-09-14 — not signed as of 2026-09-18; KY HB6 (2104106) Acts Ch. 146 2026-04-14; NH HB1195 (2054158) Ch. 217 signed 2026-07-02 eff. 2026-07-01. - Enrolled CA text / NH final chapter analysis used to describe operator-facing duties; dollar rates are not invented from bill titles.
- Fences: enrolled ≠ signed; passed ≠ in force without effective date; formulas in agency schedules; not a clone of waitlists/funding, §45F employer credit, or daycare wage-vs-price magnets; not legal advice.