Home-based Childcare Solutions
SB 214 creates a $2.3 million grant program (funded from the General Fund) to expand home-based childcare capacity in Utah. It requires home-based childcare providers caring for qualifying children (under 13 years old or with disabilities, not related to the provider) to register with the state, updates criminal background check requirements, and ensures funds remain available ("non-lapsing"). The bill directly affects home-based childcare providers who serve these children, with key provisions including mandatory registration, revised background checks, and the new grant program to help providers increase their capacity.
Bill status
passed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 29, 2026
Last action Mar 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Amended Excerpts 2/20/2026 17:02:129
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill adds new criteria for prioritizing home-based child care grants, including operating in rural areas and locations not near existing licensed providers, while renumbering some grant usage factors. The amendments also clarify the relationship between different provider types and registration requirements.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include rural areas and locations without nearby licensed child care providers as priority factors for grant awards, potentially increasing access to child care in underserved geographic areas.
ELIGIBILITY
Added 'operate within a rural area of the state' as a priority factor for grant applications, renumbered existing priority factors, and added a new criterion for operating in locations not near licensed providers.
REQUIREMENT
Added rule-making authority to define 'proximity' to licensed child care providers for grant priority purposes.
TECHNICAL
Renumbered grant priority factors from (a)-(e) to (a)-(g) to accommodate new criteria, with original factors renumbered accordingly.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2026
How they voted
26–1
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 29
Feb 23, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
6
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ floor amendment
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 214
Scope: UT
Hi! I can help you understand SB 214. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline