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FloridaSB 7382025SenateWALLET

Child Care and Early Learning Providers

Sponsored By: Colleen Burton (Republican), Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Signed by Governor

AppropriationChildren, Families, and Elder AffairsAppropriations Committee on Health and Human ServicesFiscal PolicyHouse Calendar

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Free online training for child care workers

Beginning July 1, 2025, Florida must provide free online coursework that meets minimum training standards for child care workers. Workers completing the required 40-hour introductory course can pass either an online or in-person competency exam.

Preschools can get local assessment relief

Beginning July 1, 2025, municipalities can exempt licensed preschool property from special assessments used to fund services. The property must be owned or occupied by a public or private preschool licensed under Florida Statutes section 402.305. Relief is available only when the municipality chooses to grant the exemption.

Licensing exemptions for qualifying child care providers

Beginning July 1, 2025, facilities serving only eligible children under Florida Statutes section 402.261(1)(c) qualify for a licensing exemption. They must offer regularly scheduled classes or educational programs accredited by, or affiliated through membership with, a qualifying organization. That organization must publish and require health, safety, and sanitation standards. Facilities must still meet local health, safety, and sanitation rules and state personnel screening rules; screening failures end the exemption. Exempt facilities can choose to apply for a state or local license.

Military child care gains licensing exemption

Beginning July 1, 2025, federally certified military child care facilities and family day care homes qualify for a state licensing exemption. Providers need a Department of Defense or Coast Guard certificate, the required federal background screening, and a favorable suitability and fitness decision. Providers choosing to serve children ineligible under Defense Department Instruction 6060.02 must obtain a Florida child care license.

Shorter inspections for qualifying child care providers

Beginning July 1, 2025, state and local agencies must implement plans to remove duplicate and unnecessary child care inspections. They must also create shorter inspections for centers, family day care homes, and large family child care homes. Providers need 2 consecutive licensed years, no Class 1 deficiencies, and no more than three of the same Class 2 deficiency during those years. They also need two full onsite renewal inspections in the latest 2 years, no uncorrected violations, no open regulatory complaints, and no active child protection investigations. Shorter inspections must cover key quality indicators, which the department must review at least every 5 years.

Child care safety violations get levels

Beginning July 1, 2025, Florida can create up to three levels of licensing violations directly tied to children's health and safety. Class 3 is the least serious level. It covers the same violation occurring at least three times within 2 years.

Fewer required safeguards in child care

Beginning July 1, 2025, facilities no longer must send flu notices in August and September or missed-drop-off safety notices in April and September. Drop-in providers no longer must give parents a communication system, such as a pager. Written daily activity plans remain required, but no longer must include age-appropriate activities to prevent physical and mental abuse. The law also ends the agencies' duty to develop minimum standards for specialized facilities serving mildly ill children.

Health exams apply to child care drivers

Beginning July 1, 2025, periodic health examination requirements apply to child care facility drivers. The provision does not specify an exam schedule or cost.

Counties must renew child care licensing choices

Beginning July 1, 2025, counties using a local child care licensing agency must confirm that choice every year. A majority of the county commission must vote to approve it.

Faster child care hiring with supervision

Beginning July 1, 2025, Florida must finish personnel screening within 3 business days after receiving the criminal history check. If screening takes longer, the department must grant 45-day provisional hire status unless it suspects a disqualifying factor. During that period, screened and trained staff must directly supervise the worker whenever the worker has contact with children.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Colleen Burton

    Republican • Senate

  • Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 184 • No: 0

House vote • 4/30/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 114 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

Fiscal Policy Vote

Yes: 17 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Vote

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Vote

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2025-181

    6/26/2025

  2. Approved by Governor

    6/25/2025

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    6/18/2025

  4. Ordered enrolled

    4/30/2025Senate

  5. CS passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0

    4/30/2025House

  6. Read 3rd time

    4/30/2025House

  7. Added to Third Reading Calendar

    4/30/2025House

  8. Placed on 3rd reading

    4/30/2025House

  9. Read 2nd time

    4/30/2025House

  10. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

    4/29/2025House

  11. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/30/2025)

    4/29/2025House

  12. Bill referred to House Calendar

    4/29/2025House

  13. In Messages

    4/23/2025House

  14. CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 480

    4/23/2025Senate

  15. Read 3rd time -SJ 480

    4/23/2025Senate

  16. Read 2nd time -SJ 480

    4/23/2025Senate

  17. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/23/25

    4/21/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    4/2/2025Senate

  19. Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 17 NAYS 0

    4/2/2025Senate

  20. On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/02/25, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building

    3/28/2025Senate

  21. Now in Fiscal Policy

    3/26/2025Senate

  22. Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 10 NAYS 0

    3/26/2025Senate

  23. On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 03/26/25, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

    3/21/2025Senate

  24. CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs read 1st time

    3/18/2025Senate

  25. Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

    3/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

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