HB 3409 Oklahoma House · 2026 Regular Session

Child care; child care programs; quality standards; Quality Rating and Improvement System; additional standards; Department of Human Services prohibitions; accreditation status; effective date.

HB 3409 names the legislation as the "Child Care Reform Act of 2026" and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. The bill contains no substantive policy provisions or changes to child care programs, funding, or regulations. It is a procedural act that formally designates the bill's title and implementation timeline. This summary reflects only the administrative details provided in the bill text.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the original 'Child Care Reform Act of 2026' title with a more descriptive title reflecting its specific provisions. The substantive content was significantly changed to exempt Five Star child care programs with national accreditation from additional quality standards and QRIS evaluations, while maintaining their accreditation status.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from a broad child care reform initiative to a specific exemption for nationally accredited Five Star programs from additional quality standards and assessments.

SCOPE

Title changed from 'Child Care Reform Act of 2026' to 'An Act relating to child care; providing that certain child care programs shall be deemed to have met all quality standards required under the Quality Rating and Improvement System' to better reflect the bill's actual content.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility criteria for Five Star child care programs licensed by the Department of Human Services that maintain active national accreditation from an approved accrediting body.

REQUIREMENT

Added exemption for accredited programs from additional quality standards or QRIS evaluation visits beyond those required for licensure, provided they maintain accreditation in good standing.

Added prohibition on the Department of Human Services imposing duplicative standards, documentation requirements, assessments, or site visits for QRIS participation in nationally accredited programs.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for the Department to verify accreditation status through documentation provided by the program from the accrediting body.

TECHNICAL

Changed codification status from 'not to be codified' to 'to be codified' in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 426 of Title 10.

Changed bill reference from 'AS INTRODUCED' to 'PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE' indicating the bill has been amended by the committee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Children, Youth and Family Services

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Children, Youth and Family Services

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Health and Human Services Oversight

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

First Reading

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors