A new bill filed by State Rep. Dean Arp in the North Carolina House seeks to improve child care by expanding training opportunities and updating credentialing requirements, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 1086 on April 28 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Child Care Initiative Funds/Reform/Study.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill creates a statewide pilot of career-ready lead teacher academies to provide free, short-term training that qualifies participants, including high school students, to become credentialed lead teachers in licensed child care, with stipends tied to course completion and one year of employment. It establishes a provisional early childhood credential for 16- and 17-year-olds, adjusts child care administrator qualification rules to recognize combined staff experience and business backgrounds, and appropriates about $1.5 million in state funds for the pilot and $15 million in federal funds to expand mental and behavioral health services in child care and out-of-school settings. The bill also expands the Smart Start special fund’s cash reserve, orders a $350,000 study of liability insurance options for child care providers, and raises competitive bidding thresholds for Smart Start contracts. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Donny Lambeth proposed the most bills (60) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Arp graduated from The Military College of South Carolina in 1988 with a BS.
Arp, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2013 to represent the state’s 69th House district, replacing previous state representative Frank McGuirt.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 1086 | 04/28/2026 | Child Care Initiative Funds/Reform/Study. |
| Dean Arp, Dudley Greene, Laura Budd, and Mark Brody | HB 924 | 04/10/2025 | Board for Gen. Contractors/Crim. Referrals. |
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 877 | 04/09/2025 | Childcare Pilot. |
| Dean Arp, Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 883 | 04/09/2025 | Support Students with Disabilities Act. |
| Dean Arp and Donny Lambeth | HB 892 | 04/09/2025 | CDL Training/Disaster Affected Areas. |
| Dean Arp, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Brian Echevarria, and Neal Jackson | HB 776 | 04/03/2025 | NC Religious Freedom Restoration Act. |
| Dean Arp, Chris Humphrey, Jonathan L. Almond, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 719 | 04/02/2025 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities Act.-AB |
| Dean Arp, Blair Eddins, Cody Huneycutt, and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 751 | 04/02/2025 | Uniform Energy Rates for Seasonal Service. |
| Dean Arp, Mitchell S. Setzer, Neal Jackson, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 762 | 04/02/2025 | Modernize NC S.A.F.E. Act. |
| Dean Arp, Dennis Riddell, John M. Blust, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 606 | 03/31/2025 | Civil Procedure Amendment. |
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 542 | 03/26/2025 | Child Care Mental & Behavioral Services/Funds. |
| Dean Arp, Dennis Riddell, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 435 | 03/18/2025 | Mod. Bd. of Eng’ers & Surveyors. |
| Dean Arp, Carla D. Cunningham, Keith Kidwell, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 451 | 03/18/2025 | Diabetes Education for Parents. |
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 412 | 03/17/2025 | Child Care Regulatory Reforms. |
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, John R. Bell, IV, and Larry C. Strickland | HB 389 | 03/12/2025 | Child Care Workforce Pilot Program. |
| Dean Arp, Chris Humphrey, Jonathan L. Almond, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 357 | 03/10/2025 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities Act.-AB |
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 309 | 03/05/2025 | Various Local Provisions VI. |
| Dean Arp, Dennis Riddell, Destin Hall, and John M. Blust | HB 310 | 03/05/2025 | Eminent Domain. |
| Dean Arp and David Willis | HB 170 | 02/21/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning/Union Co. |
| Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, Kyle Hall, and Larry C. Strickland | HB 74 | 02/10/2025 | House Budget Technical Corrections. |
