Bill
HB 952
Creates the NC Child Care Finance Agency to fund construction, rehabilitation, and growth of quality child care, prioritizing small providers and high-need areas to boost access.
Note: the provided packet included several different bills that share the number “HB 952” in other states (Maryland, Hawaii, Illinois). This summary covers the North Carolina measure titled “Comprehensive Capital for Childcare Expansion” (House Bill 952, First Edition), which establishes a statewide Child Care Finance Agency.
Title
- Comprehensive Capital for Childcare Expansion — North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency (Chapter 122F).
Purpose / Intent
- Create a dedicated public financing authority to expand and preserve supply of high‑quality child care in North Carolina by financing construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, and related capital projects for child care facilities. The Agency is intended to remove financing barriers, incentivize full‑day care and employer‑based childcare, and support the workforce and economy.
Key provisions
- Establishes the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency (the Agency) as a state public agency and instrumentality (Chapter 122F).
- Creates a 12‑member board of directors serving four‑year terms (directors must be state residents and not hold other public office).
- Appointments: six by the Governor (specified expertise: workforce, licensed provider, licensure specialist, construction, small‑business lending, real‑estate development); three by the General Assembly upon Senate President Pro‑Tempore recommendation; three by the General Assembly upon House Speaker recommendation (specific expertise slots described in the bill).
- Definitions: includes Agency; bonds/notes; child care facility (per G.S. 110‑86; excludes residential dwellings for this chapter); construction/rehab loans; mortgage and mortgage lenders; obligations; rehabilitation.
- Policy priorities (to be followed when feasible):
- First priority to providers with fewer than 10 facilities.
- Target areas with greatest child care need.
- Prioritize projects with licenses indicating high‑quality care as determined by the NC Child Care Commission.
- Incentivize full‑day care, encourage employer on‑site childcare, and promote apprenticeships with community colleges and higher‑ed institutions for child care workers.
- Financing and authority:
- Power to issue bonds, bond anticipation notes, construction loan notes, and other obligations.
- Make or facilitate construction loans, rehabilitation loans, and mortgage loans for child care facilities.
- Enter into contracts and grant agreements, accept grants/donations, enter data‑sharing and securitization arrangements, purchase or hold mortgage interests, foreclose if necessary.
- May work with federal programs and federally insured securities where applicable.
- Eligibility:
- Faith‑based organizations and private employers (for employer‑sponsored child care) explicitly eligible for financing.
- Administrative features:
- Agency acts as an instrumentality of the State — public purpose and benefit.
- Gives the Agency flexibility to adopt implementation procedures and prioritize projects consistent with stated goals.
Who is affected
- Child care providers (especially small providers and those seeking capital for construction/rehabilitation).
- Employers interested in on‑site or employer‑sponsored child care.
- Families and children who lack access to affordable, high‑quality child care.
- Lenders and developers participating in child care projects.
- State workforce and economy broadly (by addressing a constraint on labor force participation).
Procedural status / timeline (from bill file)
- First Edition introduced and filed in April 2025 (sponsor Rep. Helfrich; primary sponsors include Helfrich, Crawford, Turner, Rubin).
- Referred to the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (First Reading on April 14, 2025 in the bill history provided).
- (Committee scheduling and later steps would determine further movement—consult the NC General Assembly website for up‑to‑date status.)
Potential impacts and considerations
- Expected policy impact: increase supply of child care capacity statewide, improve geographic distribution, and help lower financing costs for facility construction/rehabilitation—thereby enabling more parents to work and supporting child development.
- Fiscal implications: bill authorizes issuance of bonds/obligations; actual fiscal exposure depends on structure (whether bonds are revenue‑backed by Agency loan repayments or carry some State support). Implementation costs include administrative staffing, underwriting, and program operations; financing activity could leverage private capital.
- Regulatory/oversight issues: board appointments, standards for “high quality” designation, underwriting criteria, and coordination with existing state licensing and subsidy systems will determine equity and effectiveness.
- Equity considerations: the bill prioritizes small providers and high‑need areas, which may favor rural and underserved communities, but implementation rules will be critical to ensure equitable access.
For further detail
- See the bill text (Chapter 122F) for full statutory language on governance, powers, definitions, and program priorities. Check the North Carolina General Assembly docket for current status and committee reports.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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