The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6840, mandates the Office of Early Childhood to conduct an annual study on the availability of licensed and license-exempt child care services in the state, starting January 1, 2026. This study will assess various factors, including the number of child care centers and homes, the total slots available for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children, and the supply and demand for these services on municipal, regional, and state-wide levels. The findings and recommendations from this study must be reported to the relevant joint standing committee of the General Assembly.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Early Childhood to develop a plan by January 1, 2026, aimed at addressing the shortages of infant and toddler child care services specifically for low-income families. This plan will utilize the findings from the aforementioned study and will include strategies for identifying families in need, increasing the number of subsidized slots, and ensuring access to these slots for low-income families. Both the study and the plan are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.