Redesigning the community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers.

HB 1649 redesigns Washington’s community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers, replacing the underutilized "PACE" program with a new pathway modeled after the discontinued "Building Bridges" curriculum. The bill requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to create a low-cost ($250 max), multilingual, culturally relevant training program available online and in communities by August 2025. Licensed providers can meet licensing requirements through this new pathway, existing certificates, or work experience (3+ years in licensed care) until at least 2035. The changes aim to make training more accessible, particularly for rural providers and those with language barriers.