OklahomaOklahoma law sets child care ratios and permits conditional family fees
Oklahoma law directs the Human Services director to set flexible staffing ratios at rated child care facilities and allows subsidy providers to charge some families an added fee if federal approval is obtained.
What it does
The Human Services director must set child-to-teacher ratios for two- through five-star child care facilities, choosing the most flexible ratios that protect children’s safety and care quality.
If federal approval is obtained, licensed subsidy-program facilities may charge families an added fee above the state payment rate. The family’s copayment and added fee together cannot exceed 10% of household income.
Argument forMore flexible ratios could help child care facilities staff classrooms while requiring the director to protect children’s safety and care quality.
Argument againstFamilies could pay more out of pocket if a facility charges the added fee, even though their copayment and added fee together cannot exceed 10% of household income.
More detail
The Human Services director must set child-to-teacher ratios for certain child care facilities. The ratios apply to facilities rated two, three, four, or five stars. The director must choose the most flexible ratios possible without harming children’s safety or the quality of care. The director must establish the ratios no later than the act’s effective date.
A licensed child care facility in the subsidy program may charge a participating family an added fee above the state payment rate. This applies to licensed facilities that participate in the child care subsidy program and families receiving subsidy assistance. The facility may charge the added fee only if the federal Administration for Children and Families gives any approval needed to implement it. The family’s required copayment and added fee together cannot exceed 10% of household income. The state is not responsible for paying amounts above its subsidy rate. The act includes an emergency clause that makes it effective after passage and approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/12/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 6Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Fourth Reading, Measure and Emergency Passed: Ayes: 83 Nays: 2Major
- May 6Coauthored by Representative(s) Stewart
- May 6SA's read, adoptedMajor
- May 5SA's received
- May 5Engrossed to HouseMajor
- May 4Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 4Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 48 Nays: 0Major
- May 4General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute
- Apr 22Placed on General Order
- Apr 20Emergency added
- Vote recorded Health & Human Services. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 20Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Health and Human Services committee; CR filedMinor
- Apr 20Remove as coauthor Representative(s) McCane
- Apr 20Coauthored by Representative Pae
- Apr 20remove as principal author Representative Pae and substitute with Representative Schreiber
- Apr 20Coauthored by Senator Reinhardt
- Apr 20Remove as author Senator Reinhardt; authored by Senator Rosino
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Health and Human ServicesMinor
- Feb 19Coauthored by Representative McCane
- Feb 19First ReadingMinor
- Feb 19Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Feb 18Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 95 Nays: 0Passed House
- Feb 18General Order
- Feb 12Authored by Senator Reinhardt (principal Senate author)
- Vote recorded Health And Human Services Oversight Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12CR; Do Pass Health and Human Services Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Children, Youth and Family ServicesMinor
- Vote recorded Children, Youth And Family Services Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Referred to Children, Youth and Family ServicesMinor
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Health and Human Services OversightMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Pae
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
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