Bill tightens rules on child care subsidies to stop fraud and waste.

What it does

States must pay providers based on days a child actually attends. Providers get a buffer of up to 6 missed days per month. Families must prove their income without self-certification. States must use electronic tools to track attendance. The bill creates a federal list of banned providers. States must post their plans and audit results publicly. States with high fraud payment rates face penalties.

Who it affects

Child care providers, families who get subsidies, and state governments. Providers get paid based on attendance instead of a flat rate. Families must report income changes within 90 days and use electronic check-in systems.

One thing to notice

Providers may earn less money if children miss days, even for illness or emergencies. Families must report income changes quickly or lose help, which is hard to track.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Republicans.

• Jul 14, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Jul 14, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Words to know

• child care subsidies — Money the government gives to help families pay for child care.
• electronic tools — Technology that checks who someone is, like fingerprints or voice recognition.
• banned providers — Child care workers or centers not allowed to work in the program.