NEW YORK, NY (June 29, 2026) — Today, Council Members and Prime Sponsors Jennifer Gutiérrez and Kevin Riley passed legislation to establish a permanent Office of Child Care, creating a dedicated city entity responsible for overseeing and implementing New York City’s universal child care program.
For decades, the City’s child care system has been spread across multiple agencies and programs, creating unnecessary barriers for both families seeking care, and providers operating a business. The Office of Child Care intends to streamline these processes by coordinating efforts across city agencies, expanding access to information and resources, identifying neighborhoods with unmet needs, supporting home-based and center-based providers, and ensuring continuity of care for children throughout the early years.
“As this city moves toward making universal child care a reality, we need more than just a promise; we need accountability. We do so by making this office and its mandate part of the law,” said Council Member Gutiérrez. “This bill ensures that this office lives through multiple administrations and outlines the coordination that is necessary for child care to be truly accessible and truly affordable. Both as a parent and as Chair of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, making universal child care remains one of my top priorities. I am glad that it is also a priority for Speaker Menin, my Council colleagues, and the Mamdani Administration.”
“Too many New York families struggle to find affordable, high-quality child care, making it harder to work, raise a family, and stay in our city,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Establishing a permanent Office of Child Care will bring greater coordination, accountability, and transparency to our efforts to achieve universal child care and ensure families can access the support they need. I thank Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez and Kevin Riley for their leadership on this important legislation.”
“As a former public school teacher and Chair of the Education Committee, I know that access to quality, affordable child care shapes a child’s future long before they reach a classroom,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz. “By establishing a dedicated Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, this legislation gives our city the coordination and accountability it needs to make child care work for families. I am proud to sponsor this bill, and I will keep fighting to ensure every family in the Bronx and across our city has the support they need to give their children a strong start.”
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of their family’s income or zip code,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “As a proud co-prime sponsor of this legislation, I believe creating a permanent Office of Child Care is a critical step toward building a childcare system that truly works for New York families. By coordinating services, identifying unmet needs, and holding our city accountable for expanding access, we are moving beyond promises and creating the infrastructure necessary to make universal childcare a lasting reality. Investing in our youngest New Yorkers is one of the smartest investments we can make, because when children succeed, families succeed, and our entire city is stronger for it.”
The bill comes as both the city and state continue to advance historic investments in early childhood education and child care. By codifying an Office of Child Care in the City Charter, the legislation ensures that implementation efforts will be sustained and transparent, regardless of future administrations.