COACH Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6045
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-13: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T18:02:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The COACH Act aims to support small businesses operating as child care providers by requiring the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create and maintain a comprehensive resource guide. This guide will help these businesses navigate operations, finances, compliance, and other challenges, ultimately strengthening the child care sector.
Key Provisions
- Resource Guide Requirement: The SBA Administrator must publish an initial resource guide within one year of the bill's enactment and update it at least every five years. The guide applies to various child care business models (e.g., different types of child care operations) as determined by the SBA.
- Content of the Guide:
- Operations, including marketing and management planning.
- Finances, covering financial planning, access to funding, payroll, and insurance.
- Compliance with relevant laws, such as the Internal Revenue Code (federal tax laws) and the Small Business Act.
- Training and safety, including guidance on equipment and materials.
- Quality standards, such as eligibility for funding under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (a federal program providing grants for child care services).
- Any other topics the SBA deems relevant.
- Consultation Process: Before publishing or updating the guide, the SBA must consult with:
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (oversees health and child care programs).
- Lead agencies designated under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (state or local entities managing child care grants).
- Local or regional child care resource and referral organizations (groups that connect families with child care options).
- Other relevant entities as decided by the SBA.
- Publication and Distribution:
- The guide must be published in English and the 10 most commonly spoken non-English languages in the U.S., including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean. All versions will be available on the SBA's public website.
- The SBA must distribute the guide to its own offices (including district offices) and to those consulted during development.
- Partner organizations—such as women's business centers, small business development centers, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE, a volunteer mentoring program), and Veteran Business Outreach Centers—must share the guide and other relevant SBA resources with child care providers, including sole proprietors (individual owners) and those with limited administrative capacity (businesses needing extra help with paperwork or management).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Small Business Act (the main U.S. law governing SBA programs) by adding a new Section 49 specifically for the child care resource guide.
- Redesignates the existing Section 49 as Section 50 to accommodate the new addition.
- Introduces a mandatory, recurring obligation for the SBA to produce and disseminate tailored resources for child care businesses, which was not previously required under federal small business law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The SBA will face new administrative duties, including guide development, consultations, multilingual translations, and distribution, potentially increasing workload and costs but enhancing coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and state/local child care agencies.
- On Citizens: Small child care providers, especially sole proprietors or those in underserved communities (e.g., non-English speakers), will gain easier access to practical guidance, which could improve business sustainability, compliance, and access to funding. This may indirectly benefit families by supporting more stable child care options.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic small business support.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Small Business Owners: Primarily child care providers operating as small businesses or sole proprietors, who will receive targeted resources to grow and comply with regulations.
- Government Entities: SBA (leads implementation), Department of Health and Human Services, state/local child care lead agencies, and resource/referral organizations.
- Support Organizations: Women's business centers, small business development centers, SCORE chapters, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers, which must distribute the guide.
- Families and Communities: Indirectly affected through better-supported child care services, particularly in diverse linguistic communities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a clear, enforceable timeline and consultation requirements, promoting accountability in SBA operations without overriding existing child care or tax laws. Ensures accessibility through multilingual publication, aligning with federal nondiscrimination principles.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; the bill falls under Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and support small businesses, as outlined in the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for child care (introduced by representatives from both parties) and addresses workforce needs in a sector critical for working families, potentially influencing future small business or child care policies without major controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-13: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 2025-11-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Convening Operations Assistance for Childcare Heroes Act — issued 2025-11-13 — PDF (5 pages)