Lawmakers study child care licensing with provider input

The legislative management studies laws, rules, and policies for licensing child care providers. The study includes input from the Department of Health and Human Services, the child care services advisory committee, and child care providers. If the legislative council conducts a child care services evaluation, the study must use that evaluation. The study takes place during the 2025–26 interim. The legislative management reports its findings and recommendations to the seventieth legislative assembly.

The legislative council considers evaluating the Department of Health and Human Services’ child care services. If conducted, the evaluation reviews child care laws and policies, licensing and assistance programs, staffing and program requirements, funding, and how recently enacted child care policies were carried out. The council must consider conducting the evaluation, but the text does not require it to do one. The council considers the evaluation during the 2025–26 interim. If conducted, it reports to the legislative management by August 1, 2026; the legislative management reports to the seventieth legislative assembly.

The Department of Health and Human Services establishes and supports a child care licensing advisory committee. The committee includes child care center, group child care, and preschool representatives, lawmakers from both chambers, and a child care expert. The committee works with the department to revise licensing rules and review proposed rule and policy changes. The department holds regional meetings and topic groups with providers. The committee gives status updates, submits a final report, and then dissolves. The department establishes the committee during the 2025–26 interim. The committee submits its final report by June 30, 2026, and dissolves after submitting it.