Monitoring the Session

SB 462

child-care workers’ kids move up the child care waiting list

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The catch: one more year working in Texas child care.

The bill makes local workforce development boards that keep a waiting list for subsidized child care move the children of child-care workers up the list. A child-care worker who gets that priority has to keep working in child care in Texas for one year after the child is placed. If the worker leaves early, the state workforce commission reviews the case and may cut off the child's care.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB462 · 2024-11-22

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers.

WHAT IT DOES

The catch: one more year working in Texas child care.

The bill makes local workforce development boards that keep a waiting list for subsidized child care move the children of child-care workers up the list. A child-care worker who gets that priority has to keep working in child care in Texas for one year after the child is placed. If the worker leaves early, the state workforce commission reviews the case and may cut off the child's care.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 22, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Economic Development
  5. Co-author authorized
  6. Co-author authorized
  7. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Testimony taken in committee
  10. Left pending in committee
  11. Considered in public hearing
  12. Vote taken in committee
  13. Reported favorably as substituted
  14. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  15. Committee report printed and distributed
  16. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  17. Laid before the Senate
  18. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  19. Vote recorded in Journal
  20. Three day rule suspended
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the Senate
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker
  29. Recalled from subcommittee
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  32. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  33. Committee report distributed
  34. Committee report sent to Calendars
  35. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 3807
  36. Read 2nd time
  37. Passed to 3rd reading
  38. Record vote RV#2574
  39. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote RV#2605
  43. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  44. House passage reported
  45. Reported enrolled
  46. Signed in the Senate
  47. Signed in the House
  48. Sent to the Governor
  49. Signed by the Governor
  50. Effective on 9/1/25
ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)

CARVE-OUT · analysis confidence 30%

THE TEXT

…“shall give a priority on the waiting list to children of child-care workers who are eligible for those services”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill gives one occupation, child-care workers, a place ahead of other eligible families on the waiting list. The caption says this openly, so it is honest and narrow.

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 124 yea · 18 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 15, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KBorder Health PAC$35KSRR Ranches, LLC$30K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 11, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417, 101070754.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes5

House May 15, 2025

Yea
124
Nay
18
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2605

SB 462 was passed by (Record 2605): 124 Yeas, 18 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 124 (published)
  • Nay: 18 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 14, 2025

Yea
132
Nay
3
Present, not voting
2
Absent
7
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2574

SB 462 was passed to third reading by (Record 2574): 132 Yeas, 3 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 132 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 462 (Kolkhorst) Relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 462 (Kolkhorst) Relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 462 (Kolkhorst) Relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list priority for the children of certain child-care workers. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses21
For
20
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Austin Chamber of Commerce1 registration
  • Buckner International1 registration
  • Children at Risk1 registration
  • Dallas Regional Chamber1 registration
  • Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • JPMorganChase1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Child Care Associates1 registration
  • Self; Early Matters Texas1 registration
  • Self; North texas early educatiom alliance1 registration
  • Self; Success By Six Williamson County1 registration
  • Self; Toya’s Precious Jewels Academy of the Permian Basin1 registration
  • Self; Travis County Success by Six Coalition1 registration
  • Texans Care for Children1 registration
  • Texas 20361 registration
  • Texas Association of Business1 registration
  • Texas Association of Goodwills1 registration
  • Texas Restaurant Association1 registration
  • Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • United Ways of Texas1 registration

On

  • Texas Workforce Commission1 registration
Sources

21 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 22, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 22, 2024

05/28/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Borris MilesDSenate 13
Sponsors
Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Claudia OrdazDHouse 79 Angie Chen ButtonRHouse 112
Cosponsors
Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 3807 by Harris Davila (identical)

Subjects

Day Care

Labor--Workforce Development

WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 211 words

89R3579 MM-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 462

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a child-care services waiting list

priority for the children of certain child-care workers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is

amended by adding Section 302.0064 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.0064. CHILD-CARE SERVICES WAITING LIST PRIORITY

FOR CHILD-CARE WORKERS. (a) A local workforce development board

that maintains a waiting list for child-care services shall give a

priority on the waiting list to children of child-care workers who

are eligible for those services.

(b) A child-care worker whose child receives a priority

position on a waiting list as provided by Subsection (a) must

continue to work as a child-care worker in the state until the first

anniversary of the date the worker's child is placed in child-care

services for which there was a waiting list.

(c) If a child-care worker whose child received a priority

under this section leaves the child-care workforce before the end

of the time period described by Subsection (b), the commission

shall review the circumstances of the child-care worker's

employment and may terminate child-care services for the worker's

child.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.