GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2025

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 1160

Short Title:      Reduce Parent Copays/Child Care Subsidy/Funds.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Lofton, Prather, von Haefen, and Crawford (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to:	Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

May 4, 2026

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to reduce parent copayments for subsidized child care and TO appropriate funds for that purpose.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Section 9D.3(b) of S.L. 2023‑134 reads as rewritten:

"SECTION 9D.3.(b) Fees Beginning October 1, 2026, fees for families who are required to share in the cost of care are established based on ten percent (10%) seven percent (7%) of gross family income. When care is received at the blended rate, the copayment shall be eighty‑three percent (83%) of the full‑time copayment. Copayments for part‑time care shall be seventy‑five percent (75%) of the full‑time copayment."

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education, the sum of twenty‑five million dollars ($25,000,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to reduce parent copayments for subsidized child care in accordance with Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.