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Starting July 1, 2026, this bill creates a new registration category for home-based child care providers who care for five to nine children in their home, requiring them to complete background checks, 10 hours of annual training including CPR and first aid, and sign a mandatory child abuse reporting acknowledgment. It also creates the Home-based Child Care Capacity Expansion Grant Program, which uses $2.3 million in state funds to award grants of up to $5,000 each to people starting or expanding registered home-based child care businesses, with priority given to providers in areas with a shortage of child care slots, those offering care during evenings and weekends, and those meeting quality standards. Grant funds can be used for equipment, home modifications, startup costs, and employee wages, but not for mortgage or rent payments, and recipients must maintain expanded capacity and a state license for at least two years.