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SB 214UTAHSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Utah creates home-based child care registration and awards $2.3 million for capacity grants

Original title: Home-based Childcare Solutions

Last action · March 6, 2026: Senate/ filedSponsors: Luz Escamilla and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

This bill creates the Home-based Child Care Capacity Expansion Grant Program and modifies provisions related to caring for children.

Why it matters

Home-based child care providers caring for 5 to 9 children must now register with the state, submit identifying information and fingerprints for criminal background checks, and complete 10 hours of annual training. At the same time, new and existing registered providers become eligible for capacity expansion grants up to $5,000 if they meet prioritization criteria such as operating in s or during .

Background
  • The General Fund is the primary state account used to finance the operations of Utah state government. context

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.

Directly affected

home-based child care providers

Providers caring for 5 to 9 children must register with the department, undergo background checks, complete annual training, and become eligible to apply for capacity expansion grants.

Directly affected

Department of Workforce Services

The office receives a $2,300,000 appropriation, administers the grant program, prioritizes applications, and reports annually to legislative committees.

Directly affected

Department of Health and Human Services

The department issues licenses and registrations, conducts background checks and home inspections, and enforces administrative rules.

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

Who is required to register as a home-based child care provider under this bill?
A person who provides residential child care for more than four qualifying children and fewer than 10 qualifying children must register with the department.
What can grant funds from the Home-based Child Care Capacity Expansion Grant Program be used for?
Grant funds can be used for licensing expenses, minor home modifications that directly benefit children, equipment and materials, business startup or expansion expenses, and employee wages, but cannot be used for mortgage or rent payments.
What background check requirements apply to individuals living in a registered provider's home?
Adults residing in the home must submit fingerprints and identifying information for criminal history and background checks, while juveniles aged 12 through 17 must submit identifying information without fingerprints for juvenile court record screening.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate · in House committee.

Procedural history

29 actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ filed
  2. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  3. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  4. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ strike enacting clause
  5. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
  6. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ committee report favorable
Show 23 earlier actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  2. Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  3. Feb 23, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  4. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  5. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  6. Feb 23, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  7. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  8. Feb 20, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  9. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ floor amendment
  10. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  11. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  12. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  13. Feb 5, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  14. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  15. Feb 3, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0214
  16. Feb 2, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0214
  17. Jan 30, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  18. Jan 29, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  19. Jan 29, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research
  20. Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0214
  21. Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0214
  22. Jan 28, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  23. Jan 28, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

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

Luz EscamillaSenate · District 10DemocraticPrimary sponsor
Heidi BalderreeSenate · District 22RepublicanCosponsor
Tiara AuxierHouse · District 4RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

financial connection100% confidence

General Fund Appropriation for Nonlapsing Grant Program

The bill appropriates $2,300,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 and specifically designates these funds as nonlapsing for the child care capacity expansion program.

General FundDepartment of Workforce Services

Connected Entities

Department of Workforce Services, General Fund, Department of Public Safety and 2 more
OrganizationDepartment of Workforce Services“Administers the grant program and receives appropriations”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Fund“Source of appropriated funds for fiscal year 2027”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Public Safety“Processes criminal history and fingerprint checks”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Health and Human Services“Issues child care licenses and conducts background screenings and inspections”Map →
OrganizationChild Care Provider Licensing Committee“Licensing committee created in Section 26B-1-204”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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