SB 1609 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Summary

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement an Early Learning Services Contracts Program to make available a designated number of seats at licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1609_HD1 → SB1609_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill moved from House Draft 1 to Senate Draft 1, with substantive changes to program requirements and reporting. The Senate version modified how child care centers are selected, changed the reporting timeline, and updated the program description to include negotiated rates and family referrals.

Scope change

The bill's scope was modified to require contracts for at least one licensed or regulated child care program per county (previously specified full classrooms at infant/toddler centers and group centers), and added that contracts are for families referred by the department at negotiated rates and schedules.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement from providing contracts for at least one full classroom at infant/toddler centers and one group center per county to providing contracts for at least one licensed or regulated child care program per county.

Added that contracts are for families referred by the department at a negotiated rate and schedule, replacing the previous language about making seats available for eligible families.

TIMELINE

Updated the reporting timeline to require annual reports no later than twenty days prior to the convening of regular sessions of 2026, 2027, and 2028 (previously 2026, 2027, and 2028 without the twenty-day prior specification).

DESCRIPTION

Updated the bill description to reflect the changes in program requirements and added 'family child care centers' to the list of eligible center types.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1213) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 60) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 595) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors