SB0946 • 2026

Study on Childcare Assistance Programs

Children Education Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Arrington
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: Senate - Died in Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included details about school readiness programs that were not directly supported by the official source material.

Study on Childcare Assistance Programs

The bill requires OPPAGA to study state public and private employee childcare assistance programs and submit a report with recommendations by January 30, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Requires OPPAGA to start studying childcare assistance for public and private employees in Florida starting July 1, 2026.
Specifies that the study must look at how other states' programs work, potential benefits and cost savings for a Florida program, and effects on school readiness and childcare regulation.
Recommends OPPAGA to talk with the Department of Education's Division of Early Learning, Department of Children and Families' Childcare Licensing Office, Florida Chamber of Commerce, and any other relevant groups during the study.
Requires OPPAGA to give its report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker by January 30, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

OPPAGA
Governor of Florida
Florida Legislature

Terms To Know

Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA): An office that studies government programs in Florida.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what actions should be taken based on the report's findings.
It is unclear if or how the recommendations in the report will be implemented after October 1, 2027.

Bill History

2026-03-13 Senate
• Died in Governmental Oversight and Accountability
2026-01-13 Senate
• Introduced
2026-01-05 Senate
• Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Appropriations
2025-12-17 Senate
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Study on Childcare Assistance Programs; Requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, beginning on a specified date, to conduct a study of state public and private employee child care assistance programs for a specified purpose; specifying the scope of the study; requiring the office to consult with specified entities in conducting the study; requiring the office to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 946

By
Senator Arrington

25-00933-26 2026946__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to a study on childcare assistance
3 programs; requiring the Office of Program Policy
4 Analysis and Government Accountability, beginning on a
5 specified date, to conduct a study of state public and
6 private employee child care assistance programs for a
7 specified purpose; specifying the scope of the study;
8 requiring the office to consult with specified
9 entities in conducting the study; requiring the office
10 to submit a report of its findings and recommendations
11 to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified
12 date; specifying requirements for the report;
13 providing for expiration; providing an effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1.
(1)

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of

18
Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)

19
shall
conduct
a study of state public and private employee

20
childcare assistance programs to evaluate whether a public

21
employee childcare assistance program should be implemented in

22
this state
.
The scope of the study must
, at a minimum,
include

23
consideration of
all of the following:

24
(a)

Elements and operating procedures of other states’

25
childcare assistance programs.

26
(b)

The potential benefits a Florida public employee

27
childcare assistance program would provide to residents of this

28
state and any cost savings it would provide to the state and its

29
workforce.

30
(c)

The potential effects a Florida public employee

31
childcare assistance program would have on the state’s school

32
readiness program, childcare workforce, and childcare regulation

33
and licensing.

34
(2)

In conducting the study, OPPAGA must consult with the

35
Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning overseeing

36
the school readiness program, the Department of Children and

37
Families childcare licensing
office
, the Florida Chamber of

38
Commerce, and any other entity OPPAGA deems relevant
to carry

39
out the objectives of the study
.

40
(
3
)

By January 30, 2027, OPPAGA shall submit a report
of

41
its findings and recommendations
to the Governor, the President

42
of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
.

43
The report must include
potential options for
establishing
a

44
Florida
public employee childcare assistance
program
that

45
enhance
s
school readiness,
advances
the affordability of

46
childcare,
and supports the state’s workforce,
a
ll while

47
contain
ing

costs to the
state.

48
(
4
)

This section
expires
October 1, 2027.

49 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.