The "Rhode Island Child Care for All Act" establishes a comprehensive and affordable child care system in the state, recognizing child care as a public good akin to K-12 education. The bill mandates the creation of an Office for Early Learning by June 30, 2027, which will oversee the statewide early learning system, including the administration of child care assistance programs, a quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs, and child care licensing. This office will also develop a mixed-delivery system for accessible and affordable child care for children from infancy to age twelve, as well as provide free, high-quality pre-kindergarten for three- and four-year-olds.

The legislation outlines a program for direct support to child care providers, ensuring annual funding to cover the full range of costs for high-quality early education and care. It prioritizes affordability, compliance with health and safety standards, and competitive compensation for educators. The act specifies income definitions for families receiving assistance, stating that those with incomes at or below 50% of the state median income will not incur copayments for subsidized care. Additionally, the act establishes a compensation task force to recommend competitive salary structures for early educators.

The act also includes provisions for innovative child care programs, including the development of a public child care option pilot program by June 30, 2029. The office for early learning is required to conduct regular cost of care surveys and review the early education and care assistance program annually to identify access barriers for families. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with ongoing provisions for review and adjustments to the assistance program.