Commerce Lexington Joins Statewide Coalition Supporting Childcare Reform

Commerce Lexington has joined more than 60 organizations and businesses across Kentucky in supporting consensus legislation aimed at improving childcare accessibility and affordability. House Bill 6 and House Joint Resolution 50, introduced by House Committee on Families & Children Chair Samara Heavrin (R-Leitchfield), strengthen Kentucky’s childcare system to better support working families, local communities, and employers across the Commonwealth. Both measures have passed the House Committee on Families and Children and now await a vote on the House floor before advancing to the Senate.

UPDATE 2/17/2026:
House Bill 6 passed the House on Tuesday and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Key Provisions Include:

• Creation of child care micro-centers to encourage innovation and address critical service gaps, including third-shift and drop-in childcare options.
• Modernization of the All STARS quality rating system to better support continuous improvement and accurately reflect quality across diverse care settings.
• Reforms to the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP) to emphasize measurable outcomes, strengthen incentives for providers, and streamline compliance requirements.
• A directive for the Kentucky Auditor to review administrative regulations, statutes, and agency processes affecting the opening and operation of licensed and certified childcare facilities, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency while maintaining strong health, safety, and quality standards.

​Together, these reforms are designed to increase flexibility, promote innovation, and make it easier for providers and employers to participate in solutions that expand childcare availability across Kentucky.

The legislation reflects recommendations from the Kentucky Chamber’s Childcare Collaborative, a group of more than 40 industry leaders who met over 18 months to examine childcare challenges and develop practical, employer-informed solutions.

Childcare is not only a family issue — it is a workforce issue. Access to reliable, affordable childcare directly impacts employee participation, business productivity, and economic growth.

Commerce Lexington will continue to monitor the legislation as it moves through the General Assembly. We remain committed to advocating for policies that strengthen Kentucky’s future workforce while supporting working families and employers alike.