New State Bill Opens Way for Daycare on Key Peninsula

It was a commonsense approach to providing childcare in our rural areas. It should benefit other rural communities. Using an existing building makes sense.”

Deb Krishnadasan

26th LD Delegates at Work for the KP

Some of the new funding and new laws the entire local delegation supported in the 2025 legislative session.

$42 million to complete the West Sound Tech project in Bremerton.

$13.56 million for State Route 3 widening in Gorst.

$1,030,000 toward building a Gig Harbor sports field.

$211,000 for a Key Center emergency backup power system to keep water running during power outages.

$103,000 to repair the west wall of the Key Peninsula Civic Center.

Rep. Michelle Caldier sponsored and passed House Bill 1615, prohibiting population-based assumptions when determining a water system’s classification, ensuring fairer compliance and lower costs for Class B well users. Sen. Deb Krishnadasan and Rep. Adison Richards both voted for it.

Sen. Krishnadasan sponsored and passed Senate Bill 5655, redefining the occupancy load of a childcare center in an existing building to be based only on the area where services are provided, moving a daycare facility on the KP closer to reality. Reps. Caldier and Richards voted for it.

Rep. Richards sponsored and passed House Bill 1902 to help streamline permitting for transportation projects, ensuring that such projects are built faster and cheaper. Sen. Krishnadasan and Rep. Caldier voted for it.

Thanks to legislation sponsored by local politicians, Senate Bill 5655 passed unanimously in the 2025 session, creating the possibility of a full-time daycare on the Key Peninsula.

“This is a perfect example of how legislators should work,” said Sen. Deb Krishnadasan (D-26th), who sponsored the bill.

Key Peninsula Preschool, a local nonprofit, has been working since 2023 to open a full-time childcare operation in the Lakebay Community Church near Home (See “Co-op Preschool Works to Bring Childcare to the KP,” June 2024).

The state fire code based fire suppression capacity on the entire church rather than the much smaller space the daycare planned to use, and would require a sprinkler system with a water tank that would cost about $500,000.

“The fire code laws are meant for urban, not rural areas,” said Kim Shaw, executive director of the preschool. “It is not fair. It’s an equity issue. Urban kids can have childcare, but rural kids can’t because it is just too expensive.”

“So many people who want to establish daycare are for profit, and when they hit barriers, they just stop,” Shaw said. “But we had so much pressure to keep going, so we talked to Robyn Denson.”

Pierce County Council Member Denson contacted the local 26th legislative district legislators (Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, Rep. Adison Richards, D-Gig Harbor, and Sen. Krishnadasan). The result was SB5655.

The bill recognizes a need for childcare in rural areas and that using existing buildings rather than permitting new ones on open land is a public benefit.

The bill states that the occupancy load of a childcare center in an existing building must be calculated based only on the area where the services are provided.

Shaw and Christine Luna from the preschool and Pierce County Fire Marshal Ken Rice testified before both the State Senate and House of Representatives. The bill passed both houses unanimously.

“It was a commonsense approach to providing childcare in our rural areas,” Krishnadasan said. “It should benefit other rural communities. Using an existing building makes sense.”

A major hurdle in using the church has been removed, but challenges remain. The preschool is applying for grants to carry out necessary remodeling, and the water and septic systems may need improvements. With the current federal cuts, more organizations are applying for a shrinking pot of money, Shaw said. Several foundations have announced that they have closed applications because of decreased available funds.

During the pause in planning for the church location, the preschool continued to expand childcare options on the Key Peninsula. The original co-op transitioned to a new location at the Key Peninsula Civic Center. Its M-W-F classes are full, but they have a few openings for the T-Th program. Its license was approved in April, and it now has eight infants and toddlers at the Key Peninsula Lutheran Church.

Forest Friends Preschool, an outdoor program in woods owned by the Key Peninsula Lutheran Church, opened in October and is fully enrolled with two classes of 10. (See “Forest Friends Preschool Set to Open in October,” September 2024).

They will offer a class for five older children this summer.

“I thought Forest Friends would be nice, but I was shocked at how much change and growth and happiness we have seen in the kids,” Shaw said. “They are so happy being outside all day. They really flourish. We have amazing people living here on the KP.”