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HB18Introduced in the House of Delegates

Employee Child Care Assistance Program; established, reports.

Passed

Introduced by Adele McClure, District 2

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Employee Child Care Assistance Program established. Establishes the Employee Child Care Assistance Program to provide matching funds in order to incentivize employers to contribute to the child care costs of their employees. The Program shall be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. To participate in the Program, an employer shall agree to make child care contributions to the eligible mixed delivery provider on behalf of the employee or to a third-party administrator, as defined by the bill, and shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the Foundation. The bill specifies that, to the extent funds are available, the Foundation shall issue a state match to a third-party administrator. Program funds shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; however, the bill clarifies that the Foundation is encouraged to prioritize awards to proposals involving contributions from small businesses. The bill requires the Foundation to provide an interim report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2028, and a summative report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2030, on the effectiveness and impact of the Program.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0545)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 9, 2026

40

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

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

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2Yes
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102136D

  2. Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  3. Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB18)

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 0-N)

  7. House committee offered

  8. Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

  9. Read first time

  10. Read second time

  11. committee amendments agreed to

  12. Engrossed by House as amended

  13. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB18)

  14. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  15. Read third time and passed House (91-Y 7-N 0-A)

  16. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

  18. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  19. Rules suspended

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  21. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  22. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. Read third time

  24. Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  25. Enrolled

  26. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB18ER)

  27. Signed by Speaker

  28. Signed by President

  29. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB18)

  30. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  31. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  32. Approved by Governor-Chapter 545 (effective 7/1/2026)

  33. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0545)

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