HB 1515-FN (2026): repealing the requirement that the department of health and human services' biennial budget request include funding for certain child care workforce programs.

HB 1515-FN (2026)

repealing the requirement that the department of health and human services' biennial budget request include funding for certain child care workforce programs.

• Status: Became law unsigned
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Finance
• Senate committee: Health and Human Services
• Subject: Children
• Chapter law: 86

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Finance committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 30, 2026, with 293 people signed in online: 12 in support and 281 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on February 9, 2026 and February 13, 2026. The committee met in executive session on February 20, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0690h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 14–11. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0690h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 11, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 11, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 170–153. It crossed to the Senate on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 25, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 3–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On April 9, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. The bill was enrolled on May 7, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. It became law without the governor's signature on May 23, 2026, as Chapter 86. The governor neither signed it nor returned it, and the docket records it as enacted under Part II, Article 44 of the state constitution.

Sponsors

• Rep. Len Turcotte (R - Straf 4) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Louise Andrus (R - Merr 5)
• Rep. Mike Belcher (R - Carr 4)
• Rep. Richard Brown (R - Carr 8)
• Rep. Diane Kelley (R - Hills 32)
• Rep. Kristine Perez (R - Rock 16)
• Rep. Shane Sirois (R - Hills 32)
• Rep. Paul Terry (R - Belk 7)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 30, 2026, 11:30 AM: public hearing, House Finance, GP 230
• February 9, 2026, 10:00 AM: work session, House Finance, GP 230
• February 13, 2026, 9:00 AM: work session, House Finance, GP 230
• February 20, 2026, 2:30 PM: executive session, House Finance, GP 230
• March 11, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 25, 2026, 9:30 AM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, SH 100
• April 9, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 170, nays 153, passed
• April 9, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed

The Docket

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 23
• HC 10, page 47
• HJ 7, page 174
• SJ 7
• SC 11
• SC 13
• SJ 8
• SJ 12
• HJ 12, page 40