Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to direct an early childhood care and education cost estimation study to enable the state to model actual costs of early childhood care and education

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sarah Drennan and 3 co-sponsors

WV seeks a cost-estimation model for true ECCE costs to inform future budgets and policy, including subsidy gaps and implementation plan.

To House Rules

#resolutions

Summary of Bill: HCR 32 (2026) – West Virginia

Purpose and Intent

This House Concurrent Resolution requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to direct an early childhood care and education cost estimation study.

The aim is to enable the state to model actual costs of providing early childhood care and education (ECCE) in West Virginia, informing budget planning and policy decisions.

The resolution emphasizes that affordable, high-quality ECCE supports workforce participation, family economic stability, and positive child development outcomes.

Key Provisions and Requirements

The study should produce a cost estimation model for ECCE, including:

The mechanisms and methodology used to develop the model.
The estimated true cost of delivering quality ECCE in West Virginia, with variations by:
Program type (e.g., center-based, family childcare, etc.)
Age group (infants, toddlers, preschools, etc.)
Geographic region (within the state)
A comparison between current state subsidy reimbursement rates for providers and the estimated true cost of care.
A financial estimate and an implementation plan intended to inform future budget development.

The study is authorized to use an alternative cost-estimation methodology permitted by the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) instead of the state’s current market rate survey, if appropriate.

Reporting timeline:

Findings must be reported to three committees:
Joint Committee on Government and Finance
Joint Standing Committee on Health
Joint Standing Committee on Education
Deadline for reporting: no later than December 31, 2026.

Who/What Would Be Affected

West Virginia ECCE providers (by program type and region), as the study would illuminate actual costs and potential reimbursement gaps.

State policymakers and budget officials, guiding decisions on funding, subsidies, and program design.

Families and workers benefiting from an informed approach to affordable, high-quality ECCE through potential policy adjustments and funding strategies.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Status: Introduced March 10, 2026; referred to Committee on Rules.

Sponsor/Co-sponsors: Delegates Fehrenbacher, Hite, Drennan, Young (with co-sponsors Sarah Drennan, Mike Hite, Kayla Young, Bob Fehrenbacher).

Specific action required: Direct the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to commission and oversee the cost estimation study.

Report due date: December 31, 2026, to the three named legislative committees.

Potential Impacts and Implications

Establishes a data-driven basis to reassess ECCE subsidy rates and funding structures.

Could inform budget requests and policy direction to align subsidy reimbursements with true operating costs.

May enable scenario planning and long-range investments in early childhood infrastructure and workforce development.

Uses federal guidance options (cost estimation methodology) to potentially improve accuracy beyond current market rate surveys.

Notes for Readers

This is a request/authorizing resolution, not a statute or appropriation.

If adopted, it does not, by itself, change funding levels but seeks to produce actionable cost data to guide future decisions.