How House Bill 6 could impact child care in Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Back in 2022, Kentucky was the first state to give free childcare to childcare workers, and several advocates across the Commonwealth are working to make this stick.

Under House Bill 6, the quality of child care will improve for children and employees at childcare facilities by doing things like giving nearly 4,000 child care providers a space for their children to go for free while they work, but this may not continue without the house bill.

Sarah Vanover, a policy and advocacy director at Kentucky Youth Advocates, says, “Overall, the intent is that more communities will have more child care. And we want to see the child care workforce stabilize with this bill as well. So teachers would be in one place longer and have more consistent relationships.”

If House Bill 6 passes, it will help families who utilize childcare services, strengthen care for children with disabilities and strengthen the structure of the childcare assistance program.