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HB2607 • 2026
Concerning child care rate regions.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Child care rate regions
First reading, referred to Appropriations.
Child care rate regions
AN ACT Relating to child care rate regions; and amending RCW 1 43.216.828. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3 Sec. 1. RCW 43.216.828 and 2025 c 424 s 957 are each amended to 4 read as follows: 5 (1) It is the intent of the legislature to systemically increase 6 child care subsidy rates over time until rates are equal to the full 7 cost of providing high quality child care. 8 (2) Beginning July 1, 2026, child care subsidy base rates must 9 achieve the 85th percentile of market, as established by the most 10 recent market rate survey published before May 20, 2025, for licensed 11 or certified child care providers. The state and the exclusive 12 representative for family child care providers must enter into 13 bargaining over the implementation of the subsidy rate increase under 14 this subsection. 15 (3)(a) The department shall build upon the work of the child care 16 collaborative task force to develop and implement a child care cost 17 estimate model and use the completed child care cost model to 18 recommend subsidy rates at levels that are sufficient to compensate 19 licensed or certified child care providers for the full costs of 20 providing high quality child care. The department shall consider:21 H-2995.1 HOUSE BILL 2607 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Connors and Rude Read first time 01/21/26. Referred to Committee on Appropriations. p. 1 HB 2607 (i) Adjusting rates to reflect cost of living such as area median 1 income, cost of living by zip code, and grouping by categories such 2 as rural, suburban, or urban; and 3 (ii) Incorporating the rate model for nonstandard child care 4 hours developed under section 306, chapter 199, Laws of 2021.5 (b) The department shall build upon the work of the child care 6 collaborative task force to evaluate options to support access to 7 affordable health care insurance coverage for licensed or certified 8 child care providers. 9 (4)(a)(i) On the schedule identified in (a)(ii) of this 10 subsection, and based on the most recent available market rate 11 survey, the department must review and rebase the child care rate 12 regions to include regional adjustments in the child care subsidy 13 base rates that reflect the actual cost of living and economic 14 differences between regions. The department must take into 15 consideration the factors outlined in subsection (3)(a)(i) of this 16 section, and is encouraged to designate regions on a basis more 17 localized than on the county level.18 (ii) The department must complete an initial review and rebase by 19 August 1, 2026, and a subsequent review and rebase by August 1st 20 every four years thereafter, and report each review and rebase by 21 those completion dates to the legislature in compliance with RCW 22 43.01.036.23 (b) No provider may receive a lower child care subsidy base rate 24 as compared to its prior year only as a result of adjustments that 25 reflect updated child care rate regions.26 (5) This section does not interfere with, impede, or in any way 27 diminish the right of family child care providers to bargain 28 collectively with the state through the exclusive bargaining 29 representatives as provided for under RCW 41.56.153.30 --- END --- p. 2 HB 2607