SB 554: Early Care and Learning; a grant program to expand access to child care and preschool programs; provide

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-02-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-24Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

• child care
• early childhood education
• rural Georgia
• state grants
• Pre-K