The Senate Workforce Development Committee recommended a do‑not‑pass on Senate Bill 2389, a bill that would have established an early childhood services advisory committee and staff to study laws, administrative rules and policies relating to early childhood services and childcare.

Committee members and staff noted that the House has already passed House Bill 1119, which includes similar study language and amendments the committee had been considering. Committee members said they preferred avoiding a duplicate legislative vehicle and instead suggested allowing HB 1119 to proceed so the study language will be considered as it moves through crossover.

Senator Bauchetta (committee member) described HB 1119 as a comprehensive update that the House passed and that was received by the Senate. Members who had met with childcare stakeholders, including representatives from the YMCA, said those stakeholders were comfortable with the more detailed language proposed in HB 1119 and with adopting similar amendments if needed. Several committee members said the sponsor’s bill provided a reasonable study framework, but decided to recommend do‑not‑pass to avoid having duplicate measures in play.

A roll‑call resulted in a do‑not‑pass recommendation. Committee members said the do‑not‑pass was procedural and driven by the desire to avoid duplicative legislation; they noted the subject matter remains under study through the House bill.