SB554: SB554 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 or expansion. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's early care and learning law (O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-19) directing the Department of Early Care and Learning to create the Georgia Child Care Facilities Program by July 1, 2027. The department would set competitive grant criteria, prioritizing applicants who participate in Georgia's CAPS child care subsidy program or Pre-K Program, or who meet at least two of several conditions such as being in a rural county with limited child care access, being in a school district with low third-grade reading scores, serving children in disability-inclusive settings, or participating in federal nutrition programs. Grants could pay for new construction, renovations, or nonrecurring costs to expand capacity. Recipients must stay operational as licensed providers for at least five years, and the department can hold up to 25 percent of funds in reserve for administration and technical assistance.

• Creates the Georgia Child Care Facilities Program, requiring the Department of Early Care and Learning to launch it by July 1, 2027.
• Directs the department to set competitive grant criteria that prioritize rural counties, low reading proficiency districts, disability-inclusive providers, and federal nutrition program participants.
• Allows grant money to fund new construction, renovation, retrofitting, or repair of child care centers and family child care homes to increase capacity.
• Requires grant recipients to sign a contract staying operational as a licensed provider for at least five years, with possible repayment if they do not.
• Lets the department hold up to 25 percent of program funds in reserve each year for administration and technical assistance.
• Requires the department to write rules and regulations to carry out the program and publish application criteria online.

Licensed child care learning centers and family child care learning homes, especially those in rural counties or serving low-income and disability-inclusive populations, the Department of Early Care and Learning, which will run the program, and families relying on child care and Pre-K access in underserved areas.

If enacted, child care providers, particularly in rural or underserved communities, could get state money to build or fix facilities, potentially increasing available child care slots. Providers would face new contractual obligations, including staying open for five years or risking repayment.

• Subsection (a) states the legislative finding that child care providers need capital access, especially in rural areas, and directs liberal interpretation of the section.
• Subsection (c) requires the department to create the program no later than July 1, 2027.
• Subsection (d) sets competitive grant criteria prioritizing CAPS and Pre-K participants and applicants meeting two or more listed conditions like rural location or low reading scores.
• Subsection (e) specifies allowed uses of grant funds, including new construction, renovation, and nonrecurring capacity-building costs, subject to legislative appropriations.
• Subsection (f) requires grant recipients to remain a licensed provider for at least five years, with possible repayment if this condition is broken.
• Subsection (h) requires grantees who lease their facility to have at least five years remaining on their lease to be eligible.
• Subsection (i) allows the department to reserve up to 25 percent of program funds annually for administrative and technical assistance costs.
• Subsection (j) directs the department to create implementing rules and regulations.

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 development
• state grants
• Pre-K programs