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SB1609Introduced in the Senate

Relating To Child Care.

EngrossedHouse Finance

Introduced by Joy San Buenaventura, District 2

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement an Early Learning Services Contracts Program to make available a designated number of seats at licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

Where it stands

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

December 8, 2025

How did lawmakers vote?

SenateStage: Senate Ways and Means: Passed, Unamended · February 19, 2025

13

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

13 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

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See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Lorraine Inouye1Yes
Dru Kanuha3Yes
Troy Hashimoto5Yes
Lynn Decoite7Yes
Sharon Moriwaki12Yes
Donna Kim14Yes
Glenn Wakai15Yes
Brandon Elefante16Yes
Donovan Cruz17Yes
Michelle Kidani18Yes

Bill history

  1. Introduced.

  2. Passed First Reading.

  3. Referred to HHS, WAM.

  4. The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

  5. The committee(s) on HHS deferred the measure until 02-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

  6. The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  7. Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 595) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

  8. Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

  9. The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  10. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

  11. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 789) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.

  12. One Day Notice 02-28-25.

  13. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

  14. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 60) in amended form (SD 1).

  15. Pass First Reading

  16. Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 18

  17. Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-11-25 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  18. The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

  19. Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1213) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  20. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4).

  21. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

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