Sen. Chaudhuri files bill in North Carolina Senate to allow onsite childcare in state buildings

A new bill filed by Sen. Chaudhuri in the North Carolina Senate seeks to establish onsite childcare and adult care centers in state buildings to support state employees, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 678 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Onsite Childcare for State Employees Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill authorizes the use of state-owned buildings in North Carolina for onsite childcare and adult care centers for state employees, including a pilot program for establishing three such centers in unused or underutilized facilities. The Department of Administration is tasked with evaluating the feasibility and costs of this initiative, and any renovation or construction project exceeding $5 million must include a childcare or adult care facility if it will employ more than 250 people, unless it would result in significant delays or cost increases. Furthermore, the Division of Child Development and Early Education will contract with private providers, prioritizing those with fewer centers offering high-quality childcare, and facilitate partnerships with educational institutions for apprenticeship programs. A budget of $5 million is allocated from the General Fund for the program’s implementation, effective July 1, 2025, with reimbursement available for asbestos and lead remediation costs up to $500,000. The progress and outcomes of the pilot program are to be reported by April 1, 2027.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Sophia Chitlik proposed the most bills (52) 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.

Chaudhuri graduated from Davidson College in 1991 with a BA and again in 1999 from North Carolina Central University with a JD.

Chaudhuri, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Terry Van Duyn.