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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky requires licensing regulations and creates advisory committee for outdoor nature-based child care programs
Last action · February 4, 2026: to Families & Children (H)Sponsors: Vanessa Grossl and 2 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky lawmakers are directing the state to establish licensing rules and an advisory committee for outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs by June 30, 2027. The measure defines outdoor child care programs as those serving children ages three to twelve where at least half of operating hours take place outdoors. It creates a fourteen-member advisory committee to guide the Department for Community Based Services in developing these standards.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care programs
Department for Community Based Services
The department is tasked with promulgating administrative regulations by June 30, 2027, and establishing the advisory committee.
Advisory committee appointees
Eleven members appointed by the Governor will serve three-year terms, meet quarterly, and review proposed regulations.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as an outdoor, nature-based early learning and child care program under this bill?
When must the state issue regulations for these outdoor child care programs?
Who serves on the new Outdoor, Nature-Based Early Learning and Child Care Program Advisory Committee?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 4, 2026HouseCommitteeto Families & Children (H)
- Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Formal Oversight for Outdoor Child Care
The legislation creates a distinct regulatory category and advisory committee for outdoor nature-based child care programs, which were previously undefined in statute.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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