SF4324 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Licensed child care centers and licensed family care governing policies and rules encodement and modernization provisions
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill would modernize and codify Minnesota’s licensing rules for licensed child care centers and family child care programs. It sets new requirements for how centers operate, who works there, how care is supervised, and how programs are administered to protect children’s health, safety, and development. It also reorganizes and updates related statutes and rules to align with the new framework.
Scope and applicability
- Applies to licensed child care centers and family child care programs in Minnesota.
- Requires licensing compliance under the new chapter and related statutes; allows variances when certain conditions are met.
- Replaces or updates some older statutory sections and related rules to fit the new structure.
Key program types and licensing categories
- Centers may run one or more program types: day programs, drop-in programs, night care, sick care, or combinations of these.
- New definitions and categories cover who is served (infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children) and how care is delivered (e.g., drop-in, overnight care).
Staffing and supervision requirements
- Each center must have a director responsible for program oversight, health and safety, staff supervision, and daily operations.
- There are explicit qualifications for directors, teachers, assistant teachers, aides, volunteers, and substitutes.
- On-site presence: the director or a designee must be on site during operation; designees may include qualified staff who are not full directors.
- Training and ongoing development are required for staff, volunteers, and substitutes, with specified timelines and content.
Directors and teaching staff
- Directors: minimum age and education requirements; significant experience in staff supervision and leadership; may also fill teaching roles in a classroom as needed.
- Teachers: must meet age and education requirements, plus specific postsecondary credits and practical experience; Montessori credentials or related diplomas can satisfy some requirements.
- Assistant teachers: must meet lower-but-building credentials (with credits and hours) and progress toward higher qualifications.
- Aides, volunteers, and substitutes: defined roles, supervision expectations, and training requirements; procedures for tracking and using unqualified substitutes.
Training and professional development
- New employee orientation must occur before direct contact with children; new hires after July 1, 2027 must complete basic licensing training within 90 days.
- Orientation content includes child abuse prevention, medication policies, allergy prevention, behavior guidance, transportation safety, program plans, health and safety policies, emergency procedures, infectious disease prevention, and maltreatment recognition.
- Child care basics training and ongoing in-service training are required; certain degrees or credentials can exempt individuals from some in-service training requirements.
- Pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR are required for program staff, with timelines for initial completion and ongoing renewal every two years.
- Some trainings may be completed online if approved by the commissioner; trainings must be documented and kept on site.
Policies, safety, and administration
- Centers must maintain and enforce comprehensive program policies and procedures, and ensure staff and volunteers are trained and able to implement them.
- Policies must be accessible to staff and volunteers and organized with a clear index.
- Programs must include a written child care program plan focused on children’s development and safety.
Health, safety, and compliance
- Rules cover health policies, cleaning and disinfection, emergency preparedness, accident policies, risk reduction plans, infant care safety, and transportation/safety for field trips.
- There are specific definitions related to health and safety terms (e.g., direct contact, supervision, access and supervision of children, arrival/departure times).
- The bill introduces explicit limits on how arrival and departure times are scheduled within a center’s licensed hours.
Notable changes to existing law
- Codifies a new licensing framework under chapters 142H and 142I, and makes amendments to related statutes and rules, while repealing or consolidating certain older sections.
- Introduces formal qualifications and on-site presence requirements for directors and for teaching staff, including Montessori-related credentials as acceptable qualifications.
- Establishes detailed staff ratios and roles (director, teachers, assistants, aides, volunteers, substitutes) with defined training and documentation requirements.
- Adds comprehensive orientation and ongoing training requirements, including pediatric first aid and CPR, with specified timeframes and possible online delivery.
- Creates new requirements for program policies, parent access, record keeping, and safety-related program plans.
- Allows variances under defined conditions, expanding flexibility for license holders to meet safety and program needs.
Relevant Terms - license, license holder, center, family child care - 142H, 142I, 142B (statutory references) - day program, drop-in, night care, sick care - infant, toddler, preschooler, school age - program staff, director, teacher, assistant teacher, aide - volunteer, substitute - on site, designee, supervision, direct contact - program policies and procedures, child care program plan - health and safety, cleaning, disinfecting, emergency preparedness - arrival and departure times - pediatric first aid, pediatric CPR - Montessori credentials, American Montessori Society, Montessori International - training, orientation, in-service, professional development - maltreatment recognition, risk reduction plan, emergency policies - transportation and field trips - log, records, documentation, compliance, variances - capacity, staffing requirements, staff ratios - ongoing development, child development and learning training
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 11, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Health and Human Services |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 245A.211 subdivision 1.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "245A.211",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines key terms for the 142H licensing framework, including 1 through 37 subdivisions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.01",
"subdivision": "1-37"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Applicability and licensing process references to 142H.02 Subdivision 1a and 1b.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.02",
"subdivision": "1a, 1b"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Operating options: program type and definitions reference 142H.03 Subdivisions 1 and 2.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.03",
"subdivision": "1, 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Policies and procedures for program administration; cross-references 142H.04 Subdivision 1.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.04",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Directors: Subdivisions 1-3 define director requirements and on-site presence.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.05",
"subdivision": "1, 2, 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Teachers: Subdivisions 1-2 specify qualifications and related criteria.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.06",
"subdivision": "1, 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Assistant teachers: Subdivisions 1-2 establish qualifications and credentials.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.07",
"subdivision": "1, 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Aides, volunteers, and substitutes: Subdivisions 1-4 cover qualifications and tracking.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.08",
"subdivision": "1, 2, 3, 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Staff orientation and training: Subdivisions 1-6 outline requirements and content.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.09",
"subdivision": "1-6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 142H.11 within the orientation/training context.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.11",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Child passenger restraint systems referenced within director/teacher training requirements.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.15",
"subdivision": "5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Night care program references to 142H.16.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.16",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Pediatric infectious disease prevention training referenced in orientation content.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.18",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cameras and social media participation procedures referenced in orientation content.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.22",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Emergency and accident policies referenced in orientation content.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.23",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Risk reduction and other safety content cited within orientation materials.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.24",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Pediatric first aid and related training requirements referenced in orientation.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.29",
"subdivision": "2, 5, 10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting procedures referenced in orientation.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.31",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Transportation and field trip safety procedures cited in orientation.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142H.33",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Maltreatment reporting provisions referenced by the bill (chapter 260E).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260E",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "High school equivalency credential reference (section 124D.549) within director qualifications.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "124D.549",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.01 subdivisions 11,12,13,25,26,27 as part of modernizing licensing changes.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.01",
"subdivision": "11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.41 subdivisions specified; licensing changes.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.41",
"subdivision": "4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.54 subdivisions 1-3 as part of modernization.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.54",
"subdivision": "1, 2, 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.62 as part of modernization.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.62",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.65 subdivisions; scheduling of licensing limits.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.65",
"subdivision": "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.66 subdivisions; modifications to licensing framework.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.66",
"subdivision": "1, 2, 4, 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.70 subdivisions listed; licensing program options.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.70",
"subdivision": "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.71.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.71",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.72.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.72",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.74.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.74",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.75.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.75",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.76.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.76",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Repeal references to 142B.77.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.77",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Supplemental reference to 142B.41 subdivision 9 in Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.41",
"subdivision": "9"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Reference to the State Building Code via section 326B.133.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "326B.133",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Reference to the State Building Code via section 326B.101.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "326B.101",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Reference to the State Fire Code via section 299F.011.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299F.011",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Variance provision cross-reference to 142B.10 subdivision 16.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.10",
"subdivision": "16"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Reference to 142B.46 in the context of reducing risk of SIDS and related safety.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "142B.46",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Direct contact definition cross-referenced to Minnesota Statutes 245C.02 subdivision 11.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "245C.02",
"subdivision": "11"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee