Lawmakers consider creating trust‑land program to fund childcare access in deserts and overburdened communities

Representative Christine Reeves told the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee that House Bill 1593 would create a new trust‑land concept to generate long‑term revenue for childcare access and to address childcare deserts and overburdened communities.

Under the bill’s framework presented to the committee, DNR would be authorized to acquire and manage lands in trust for the benefit of families lacking childcare access; those lands would need to meet criteria including being at risk of conversion to non‑forested uses and suitable for commercial forestry. Revenues from activities on those trust lands would be deposited in a new account after deduction of the DNR management fee. Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce would establish a grant program funded from that account to support childcare sites in childcare deserts and overburdened communities; grants could be used for one‑time operational and family supports such as tuition waivers and must be prioritized to further racial equity.

Representative Reeves framed the bill as a long‑term, systemic approach to funding early learning and reducing inequities in access. She said existing legal and funding structures for K–12 education grew from trust‑land revenue and that a parallel mechanism for early learning would create a stable revenue stream to support childcare in underserved communities. "The goal of this legislation is to create a longer term strategy ... to invest in state lands on behalf of the benefit of all people in the state of Washington that helps us address funding issues to support our littlest learners," Reeves said.

Supporters included the Washington Child Care Centers Association and advocates for Black childcare workers, who described the proposal as a social‑equity approach to long‑term childcare funding. Amy Anderson of the Washington Child Care Centers Association described the measure as "another tool in the toolbox" for addressing shortages, and Paula Sardinas, speaking for Black childcare workers, called the concept an actionable investment in racial and economic justice.

Multiple students from Lake Washington High School testified in support, describing the bill as an investment in workforce stability and rural or low‑income families. Witnesses gave examples of families and workers who face long waits for childcare, nonstandard work hours, and prohibitive monthly costs, and they cited economic arguments that investment in childcare can increase workforce participation.

The Legislature previously enacted the Fair Start for Kids Act, Representative Reeves said, but she noted that program did not fund rural childcare centers or childcare‑desert grants; proponents said HB 1593 aims to fill those gaps.

The committee did not record any final vote on HB 1593 in the transcript. Committee members and proponents said they expect detailed work over the interim to define eligibility, align DNR trust‑land management rules, and set appropriation levels. The committee closed the public hearing and read signed‑in positions into the record (pro 11, con 950) and adjourned without taking a final vote on the bill.