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S. 5683Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Best Practices for Military Family Child Care Homes Act

A bill to require the development of a best practices guide for individuals seeking to establish and operate a Family Child Care home on a military installation.

Sponsored by Jacky RosenSen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Introduced October 15, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 17, 2026 at 3:20 AM UTC

The bill directs the Department of Defense to create a best‑practices guide for people who want to start and run a Family Child Care home on a military base. The guide must be published within a year and made publicly available online, helping military families and prospective child‑care providers understand the requirements and resources available.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense must publish a department‑wide guide within one year of the law’s enactment.
  • In developing the guide, the Secretary must consult with military departments, installations, existing Family Child Care program administrators, and successful providers to gather best practices.
  • The guide must cover at least: certification steps, training and licensing standards, background checks, financial assistance options, liability and safety requirements, and ways to reduce administrative hurdles.
  • The guide must be posted on a searchable DoD website for easy access by military families.
  • Each military department is encouraged to add service‑specific appendices that address unique policies, installation needs, housing considerations, and points of contact.
  • Within 18 months, the Secretary must brief congressional defense committees on implementation progress, awareness efforts, identified barriers, and any further actions needed.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/30/2026.

Armed Services Committee

October 15, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

October 15, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/30/2026.

Armed Services Committee

October 15, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued October 15, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5683

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 15, 2026

Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Lankford), under authority of the order of the Senate of September 30, 2026, introduced the following bill; which was ordered read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To require the development of a best practices guide for individuals seeking to establish and operate a Family Child Care home on a military installation.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Best Practices for Military Family Child Care Homes Act.

2.

Department of Defense best practices guide for Family Child Care homes

(a)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall publish a Department-wide best practices guide for individuals seeking to establish and operate a Family Child Care home on a military installation.

(b)

Consultation requirement

In developing the guide required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall consult with military departments, military installations, Family Child Care program administrators, and established Family Child Care providers operating under successful Family Child Care programs across the Department of Defense to identify and incorporate best practices, lessons learned, and approaches that have demonstrated success in expanding participation and reducing barriers to establishing and operating Family Child Care homes.

(c)

Required elements

The guide required under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum—

(1)

an overview of the process for becoming a certified Family Child Care provider;

(2)

standardized information regarding training, inspections, background checks, licensing, and certification requirements;

(3)

guidance regarding available financial assistance, startup support, subsidies, grants, and reimbursement opportunities;

(4)

information on liability coverage, safety standards, and emergency preparedness requirements;

(5)

recommendations for reducing administrative barriers to establishing Family Child Care homes; and

(6)

any additional information the Secretary determines appropriate to support prospective Family Child Care providers.

(d)

Public availability

The Secretary shall make the guide required under subsection (a) publicly available on an internet website of the Department of Defense in a searchable and accessible format for military families.

(e)

Service-Specific appendices

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Defense shall encourage the Secretaries of the military departments to publish and maintain service-specific appendices accompanying the guide required under subsection (a).

(2)

Contents

A service-specific appendix under paragraph (1) may include—

(A)

service-specific policies or procedures;

(B)

installation-level best practices;

(C)

information regarding unique operational requirements or child care demands within the military department concerned;

(D)

guidance regarding military housing considerations related to Family Child Care homes; and

(E)

points of contact and resources specific to the military department concerned.

(f)

Briefing

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) regarding—

(1)

actions taken to implement this section;

(2)

efforts to improve awareness of Family Child Care opportunities among military spouses and families;

(3)

barriers identified in the establishment of Family Child Care homes; and

(4)

recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve military child care capacity.