Sen. Chaudhuri files bill in North Carolina Senate to create child care finance agency

A new bill filed by State Sen. Chaudhuri seeks to create the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care across the state, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 680 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Comprehensive Capital for Childcare Expansion.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to address the shortage of accessible and affordable child care in the state. The agency will provide financing for the construction and rehabilitation of child care facilities, with an emphasis on high-quality care provided by both private and faith-based organizations. It is particularly geared towards assisting providers with fewer than 10 facilities, and prioritizing areas of greatest need. The agency is empowered to issue bonds and notes to fund these activities, with oversight from various legislative bodies. The bill appropriates $20 million from the General Fund for the 2025–2026 fiscal year to support the agency’s activities, effective July 1, 2025.

Of the three 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.