Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, has filed a bill aimed at modernizing the state’s childcare sector and addressing current childcare deficiencies.
The measure, House Bill 6, would address several of the core shortfalls identified in the Chamber of Commerce’s Childcare Collaborative report released in May 2025.
In June 2024, the Kentucky Chamber created the Childcare Collaborative bringing together a team of 40 stakeholders from across the commonwealth to identify and address childcare foundational issues and their regulatory agencies.
Over 18 months, the collaboration identified 37 actionable issues to expand access, improve quality and modernize Kentucky’s childcare sector.
“High-quality childcare is the key to unlocking our commonwealth’s education and workforce potential,” Heavrin said. “Currently, we have a childcare shortage and an opportunity to update rules, regulations, and infrastructure in our public agencies tasked with overseeing and supporting the childcare sector. This legislation has the goal to bring new life to our childcare centers, create pathways to reinvigorate our communities, and put in place prescriptive policies and procedures to grow our early childhood education system much like the success seen in Montana and Tennessee who have pursued similar reforms.”
“I would like to thank the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for their work in this area bringing together stakeholders and state leaders to prescriptively address our childcare crisis,” Heavrin added. “Without the support of our community, stakeholders, state leaders, and many more, we would not be able to address our childcare crisis. I am confident that together we can make a positive impact from Fulton County to Pike County and build a commonwealth where high-quality childcare is affordable and accessible.”
HB 6 can be broken down into the following components:
- First, the measure would address the regulatory environment childcare centers operate in. Modeling successful states such Montana and Tennessee, this measure would require third-party review of childcare regulations across an extended timeline to ensure that any regulatory reform is undergone in a prescriptive manner.
- Secondly, the measure would modernize the ALL-STARS rating system by creating an outcomes-based rating model as opposed to the current theory-based model. Another regulatory component of this measure would authorize micro facilities like regulations in Indiana.
- The measure would also implement a robust data collection requirement related to the childcare industry. It would require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to track real childcare capacity as opposed to licensed capacity.
- Other provisions of this measure would require a monthly count of childcare providers and establish fiscal transparency with an annual financial report from the Office of the State Budget Director.
- Additional provisions of this measure would modernize programs established by previous sessions of the General Assembly such as reforms to the Employer Childcare Assistance Program and bolster the Certified Child Care Communities designation available to local governments.
“Our children, working parents, and communities will be strengthened and supported by this legislation,” Heavrin stated. “This is one step on the road to solving the childcare crisis. We are building on what we have done, what we have experienced, and what our community has called us to do. Access to high-quality childcare is the foundation that Kentucky’s success will be built upon. Our education system, workforce, and economy will thrive as we continue to address the childcare crisis and introduce a climate that supports high-quality childcare in every Kentucky community.”
For more information on HB 6, other legislative measures, or the 2026 Regular Session, please visit legislature.ky.gov.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
