Senate Bill 1: Landmark Child Care Expansion Clears Senate

The Senate voted Friday to pass sweeping education legislation, which puts Connecticut on track to significantly expand access to childcare and addresses a special education crisis faced by municipalities across the state.

Senate Bill 1 — 2025’s flagship proposal from the state Senate’s Democratic majority — passed on a 32-4 vote and directly responds to some of the most pressing issues faced by Connecticut families and municipalities.

It will provide relief for parents struggling to pay for costly child care and takes steps to address critical special education needs experienced by towns and cities across the state.

Child Care

The bill creates a first-in-the-nation, independent investment vehicle to support expanded access to child care. The Early Childhood Education Endowment will be supported by expected surplus funding, capped at $300 million this year and utilizing the total expected surplus in subsequent years.

The endowment will eventually support the creation of an estimated 16,000 additional preschool and infant toddler child care spaces by 2030. These new slots will be free or reduced cost, depending on the income of the households enrolling their children in qualifying programs. Families earning less than $100,000 will receive free child care, while households earning more will have access to child care at a cost that will not exceed 7% of their income.

“This historic investment in child care marks a turning point for Connecticut. For too long, the high cost and limited availability of reliable care have pushed parents, especially women, out of the workforce and placed enormous strain on family budgets,” Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney said. “At the same time, low wages and meager benefits have driven providers out of the field. Senate Bill 1 takes a comprehensive approach to these challenges, strengthening the child care system so that families can thrive, providers are supported, and our youngest learners arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.”

“Parents have been telling us that child care is unaffordable, and municipalities have been clear they need help with special education. Senate Bill 1 tackles both,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said. “We’re taking sustainable steps toward universal child care so parents can stay in the workforce without breaking the bank. And we’re overhauling special education to bring more oversight, more efficiency, and a system that actually works for families and educators.”

“Right now, families in underserved communities have fewer child care options and face higher barriers to access. Senate Bill 1 is designed with equity in mind,” Senator Doug McCrory, Senate chair of the Education Committee, said. “It ensures that funding doesn’t just flow to the communities that can afford to pay more, but reaches the families who need it most. Every child deserves the same strong start, no matter where they live.”

The proposal requires that at least 35% of new child care slots serve infants and toddlers, directly addressing a critical shortfall  in Connecticut’s child care system.

The bill will include several provisions designed to support the child care and pre-kindergarten workforce. It features a health insurance subsidy program for child care workers, addressing a pervasive barrier to workforce retention in the industry. Senate Bill 1 also allows for more competitive and sustainable educator wages through rates established by the Office of Early Childhood.

Special Education

Senate Bill 1, along with its companion proposal House Bill 5001, responds to feedback from communities across Connecticut, which have wrestled with the soaring and unpredictable costs associated with special education programing.

Recognizing the high cost of private, out-of-district special education services, the bill creates a $10 million grant to incentivize the development of in-district programming.

The proposal seeks to address the costs associated with transporting students to and from special education programs. It creates a Request For Information (RFI) intended to determine the most efficient transportation routes, ensuring the municipalities are not spending limited funds on redundant trips.

The bill calls for districts to establish Instructional Support Partners who will work closely with teachers, parents, and school teams to streamline processes like IEP development, facilitate meaningful professional learning, and advance effective strategies that support student growth and inclusion. By requiring at least 50% of their time to be spent on these specialized responsibilities, this new position represents a bold step forward in promoting support for educators and student success—particularly for those who need it most.

The legislation responds to parents’ concerns about frequent staff changes in out-of-district special education programs. It requires these programs to notify parents, school boards, and the state Department of Education if any staffing change lasts more than 10 school days.