Gov. Newsom signs bill to make opening family daycares easier in residential neighborhoods

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation authored by state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, whose district includes Solano County, aimed at making it easier to open and expand family daycare centers in residential neighborhoods across California.

Senate Bill 299, signed into law over the weekend, addresses a discrepancy in state law governing daycare centers, Cabaldon said in a press release announcing the signing. While centers located in commercial and industrial areas are exempt from certain state reporting requirements, similar facilities in residential neighborhoods have faced additional requirements.

Supporters of the legislation say the change could help expand access to childcare in the communities where families live.

The bill grew out of a dispute in Napa County involving Le Petit Elephant, a daycare center seeking to expand into an empty church building. The project had received $2.8 million in federal and state grants and had a waitlist of families seeking childcare, according to supporters of the legislation. A group opposed the expansion, prompting a legal fight over the proposed facility.

Cabaldon said the bill is important for every county, though.

“This is a big win for parents,” Cabaldon said in a statement. “Nobody should have to fight a lawsuit just to open a daycare down the street. We fixed a broken part of the law, and now more families across California will have childcare closer to home.”

In Solano County, local family child care alliances have been actively lobbying local leaders for massive child care overhauls and more funding for care providers. They have been loudly protesting the heavy financial burden placed on daycare providers, including redundant business license fees, duplicate local taxes, and localized zoning gridlocks. SB 299 is the first major structural relief package to directly answer those issues, advocates of the bill note.

In Napa County, Supervisor Liz Alessio, who supported the legislation, said the measure could increase access to licensed childcare and benefit working families.

“I’m grateful for Senator Cabaldon’s leadership in standing with childcare providers and for working families who are struggling to find licensed care for their babies and children,” Alessio said. “SB 299 will increase access to safe, thriving, learning environments for our community kids across California, which is proven to have lifelong positive impacts on their future education, health, and overall success.”

The legislation was backed by Build Up California, the California State Association of Counties, Community Resources for Children and Napa County Supervisors Anne Cottrell and Alessio.