Senate passes bill creating Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to reduce regulatory overlap among childcare agencies

Senator Birdwell moved and the Senate adopted House Bill 49 03 to create the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative, a collaborative structure intended to reduce duplicative regulation across the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Senator Birdwell said the quad agency is not a new state agency but an interagency effort chaired by TWC and intended to operate within existing agency resources. The bill (as amended on the floor) requires the quad agency to make recommendations, coordinate with the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO), and submit reports to the governor within 30 days of each meeting; TREO can render final determinations when the quad agency cannot reach a resolution.

The floor amendment clarified that the quad agency must post review requests that are actually granted and removed expedited review language; it also allowed commissioners to appoint designees to serve on the commission. Senator Birdwell said the amendment aligns the quad agency’s authority and timelines with the recently created TREO and governor’s office guidance.

The Senate recorded a final passage vote; the transcript shows the roll as "30 ayes and 1 nay," and the bill was reported finally passed on the floor during this sitting.

Why it matters: HB 49 03 centralizes interagency collaboration on childcare regulation across the four primary agencies that shape licensing, funding and program standards. Supporters said the change will reduce duplicative oversight that can increase costs and complexity for childcare providers.

Implementation: The bill requires reporting by the quad agency and coordination with TREO; participating agencies must comply with TREO determinations when TREO finds a regulation inconsistent with quad agency objectives.