North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina H1158: Increase Market Rate/Rate Floor/Child Subsidy.
Status: In committee, May 4, 2026
What the bill says
An act to increase child care subsidy rates to the seventy-fifth percentile of the 2023 market rate study, with automatic increases upon completion of subsequent new studies, to set a statewide rate floor, and to appropriate funds for those purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE CHILD CARE SUBSIDY RATES TO THE SEVENTY-FIFTH PERCENTILE OF THE 2023 MARKET RATE STUDY, WITH AUTOMATIC INCREASES UPON COMPLETION OF SUBSEQUENT NEW STUDIES, TO SET A STATEWIDE RATE FLOOR, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1.(a) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education, shall increase the child care subsidy market rates to the seventy-fifth percentile as recommended by the 2023 Child Care Market Rate Study for children in three-, four-, and five-star-rated child care centers and homes. Whenever new rates are recommended in subsequent market rate studies, the Division shall automatically increase the child care subsidy rates to the seventy-fifth percentile of those recommended rates beginning July 1 of the next fiscal year. SECTION 1.(b) There is appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), from the General Fund the sum of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year and from the Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. These funds shall be used to implement the market rate increases …
Sponsors
- Lofton, Brandon (D, 104) · primary sponsor
- Prather, Lindsey (D, 115) · primary sponsor
- von Haefen, Julie (D, 36) · primary sponsor
- Crawford, Sarah (D, 66) · primary sponsor
- Ager, Eric (D, 114)
- Alston, Vernetta (D, 29)
- Ball, Cynthia (D, 49)
- Belk, Mary (D, 88)
- Brown, Gloristine (D, 8)
- Brown, Kanika (D, 71)
- Brown, Terry M. (D, 92)
- Buansi, Allen (D, 56)
Latest actions
- : Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Filed
Subjects: BUDGETING, DHHS, MINORS, DAY CARE, PUBLIC, SOCIAL SERVICES, APPROPRIATIONS
Common questions
- What is H1158?
- H1158 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Increase Market Rate/Rate Floor/Child Subsidy.
- What does H1158 do?
- In its own words: An act to increase child care subsidy rates to the seventy-fifth percentile of the 2023 market rate study, with automatic increases upon completion of subsequent new studies, to set a statewide rate floor, and to appropriate funds for those purposes.
- What is the status of H1158?
- In committee as of May 4, 2026. Latest action: Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (May 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored H1158?
- Lofton, Brandon (D, 104), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H1158?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H1158
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.