Georgia CommonsSenate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 554: Early Care and Learning; a grant program to expand access to child care and preschool programs; provide
Last action February 25, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred
A Georgia Senate bill would create a state grant program, run by the Department of Early Care and Learning, to help child care providers build, expand, or renovate their facilities, with priority for rural areas.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia currently has no dedicated state grant program to help child care providers pay for building repairs, renovations, or expansion. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's early care and learning law creating the Georgia Child Care Facilities Program. The Department of Early Care and Learning would have to set up the program by July 1, 2027, and would decide grant amounts and competitive award criteria. Grants could pay for new construction, renovations that add capacity, converting existing buildings into child care facilities, or one-time costs to use existing licensed capacity more fully. Priority would go to applicants in Georgia's CAPS child care subsidy program, the state Pre-K program, or those meeting criteria like serving rural counties, low reading-proficiency school districts, disability-inclusive care, or federal nutrition programs. Grant recipients must stay operational as licensed providers for at least five years or may have to repay the money, and the department can hold back up to 25 percent of program funds for administration and technical help.
What the bill does
- Creates the Georgia Child Care Facilities Program, requiring the Department of Early Care and Learning to establish and run it by July 1, 2027.
- Directs the department to set competitive grant criteria that prioritize applicants in the CAPS subsidy program, Georgia's Pre-K Program, or rural and underserved areas.
- Allows grant funds to be used for new construction, renovation, retrofitting, or nonrecurring costs that increase licensed child care capacity.
- Requires grant recipients to remain a licensed child care provider for at least five years, with possible repayment if they do not, and requires a minimum five-year lease for those who do not own their facility.
- Lets the department set grant amounts based on project scope, regional costs, and licensing or safety needs, and reserve up to 25 percent of funds for administration and technical assistance.
Who it affects
Child care learning centers and family child care learning homes licensed by the Department of Early Care and Learning, especially those in rural counties, would be eligible to apply. The department itself takes on new administrative duties, and families relying on child care and Pre-K in underserved areas could see more available slots.
Why it matters
If enacted, providers in rural or low-income areas could get state money to build or expand facilities, potentially increasing the supply of licensed child care and preschool slots. Recipients would face a five-year operating commitment, and actual funding depends on future state budget appropriations.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 20-1A-19, creating the Georgia Child Care Facilities Program, which the department must establish and administer by July 1, 2027.
- Defines 'rural county' as one with a population under 50,000 per the 2020 census or future censuses.
- Sets competitive grant criteria prioritizing participation in CAPS or Pre-K, or meeting two or more factors such as rural location, low third-grade ELA proficiency, disability-inclusive care, or federal nutrition program participation.
- Limits use of grant funds to construction, renovation/retrofitting for increased capacity, converting facilities for child care use, or nonrecurring capacity-boosting costs, subject to legislative appropriations.
- Requires a five-year operating contract as a licensed provider, with possible repayment of grant funds if that condition is broken, and a five-year minimum lease for non-owner applicants.
- Authorizes the department to reserve up to 25 percent of program funds each fiscal year for administrative and technical assistance costs.
- Directs the department to publish application procedures and grant criteria online and to issue implementing rules and regulations.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“No later than July 1, 2027, the department shall create and administer a grant program to be known as the Georgia Child Care Facilities Program for the establishment and expansion of facilities for child care learning centers and family child care learning homes licensed by the department.”
“the recipient will remain operational as a licensed child care learning center or licensed family child care learning home for at least five consecutive years after receipt of the initial grant award and may include a provision for repayment of grant funds if such condition is not met”
Discussed in meetings (2)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 3, 2026
From 1:38:36 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 554 would create childcare and preschool facilities grants, subject to appropriations. A Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students representative said the competitive program would begin by July 1, 2027, if funded, supporting construction, renovation, conversion and other one-time expansion costs. The representative described priorities for CAPS or lottery-funded pre-K providers and programs meeting specified rural, literacy, disability-service or nutrition criteria. Recipients would need five-year operating and occupancy commitments, with possible repayment for noncompliance. The representative said administration and technical assistance could use up to 25% of appropriations and cited $2.52 billion in annual economic losses from childcare access and affordability problems. A Georgia Childcare Association witness said over 69% of survey respondents ranked facility grants among their top three desired solutions. A Waynesville provider described infant and toddler waiting lists and insufficient therapy space. An Eastman provider serving about 140 children described aging kitchen equipment, damaged flooring and inadequate locks, saying tuition increases would price families out. A Thomasville provider said space limits prevented adding requested pre-K services. A Low Income Investment Fund witness supported grants, citing providers' limited capital. The committee took no vote before adjournment.
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
Topics
- child care
- early childhood education
- rural Georgia
- state grants
- Pre-K