All Roll Calls
Yes: 94 • No: 9
IdahoH 03122025 regular legislative sessionHouse
DAYCARE – Amends and adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding the licensing of daycare facilities.
Sponsored By: HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
DAYCARE
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Safer Sleep and Discipline for Daycare Children
Beginning July 1, 2025, daycare providers must keep sleeping children within sight and normal hearing range. Overnight care requires an awake staff member on duty, with sleeping children on the same level as staff. Each child needs a separate cot, mat, or bed and blanket; children cannot share beds with nonparent adults. Discipline must be positive, consistent, and suited to each child’s needs and development. The law bans corporal punishment, cruel or excessive exercise or labor, restraints, locked confinement, denial of necessities, and mental, emotional, or verbal abuse.
Daycare Complaints Require Investigation and Follow-Up
Beginning July 1, 2025, Idaho must investigate daycare complaints and notify operators when an initial review calls for fuller investigation. That notice must also describe any planned action. Idaho may suspend licenses for violations and revoke them if operators fail to show that problems are corrected. Problems beyond an operator’s control can also lead to suspension until fixed, interrupting care. During a summary suspension, children cannot be transported from the facility, and parents or legal guardians must be contacted.
Training and Certification for Daycare Staff
Beginning July 1, 2025, daycare staff must be at least 16 and employed to provide care and supervision. Owners, operators, and providers can qualify as staff, and providers count toward staffing ratios. Daycare center employees must receive four hours of child-development-related training every 12 months after hire. Staff counted toward ratios must hold current pediatric rescue-breathing and first-aid certifications from a certified instructor. Owners or operators must keep training and certification records; these safeguards can add compliance costs.
Stronger Daycare Enforcement Includes Five-Year Application Bar
Beginning July 1, 2025, Idaho may deny, suspend, or revoke daycare licenses for listed owner or operator misconduct. Grounds include withheld records, specified fraud or felony circumstances, knowingly allowing illegal acts, safety threats, repeated violations, false or omitted information, refused access, and abuse. These grounds strengthen child-safety enforcement but can end a provider’s licensed operations. After denial or revocation, Idaho cannot accept a new application until five years after the final disciplinary action. The bar covers affected people and entities, including specified managing employees, officers, owners, and an owner’s spouse or partner.
Fee Caps and Deadlines for Daycares
Beginning July 1, 2025, Idaho must issue qualifying daycare licenses within 60 days after receiving complete applications, inspection certificates, and criminal-history information. Applicants must meet minimum standards; licenses last two years. License fees are capped at $325 for centers serving over 25 children, $250 for centers serving 13–25, and $100 for other facilities. Criminal-history checks cost extra at actual cost; no other license fees are allowed. Idaho may use Idaho Child Care Program funds to cover licensing costs that fees do not cover, with no amount specified.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Tanya Burgoyne
Republican • House
Brian Lenney
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/19/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 27 • No: 6
House vote • 3/5/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 67 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Reported Signed by Governor on March 27, 2025 Session Law Chapter 186 Effective: 07/01/2025; 07/01/2025 IDAPA Sunset Clause - SECTION 8
3/27/2025Delivered to Governor at 12:03 p.m. on March 24, 2025
3/24/2025Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
3/24/2025SenateSigned by President; returned to House
3/21/2025SenateReceived from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
3/21/2025SenateReported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
3/20/2025HouseReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
3/20/2025HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 27-6-2
3/19/2025SenateRead second time; filed for Third Reading
3/17/2025SenateReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
3/14/2025SenateIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
3/6/2025SenateReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
3/6/2025SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 67-3-0
3/5/2025HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/4/2025HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
3/3/2025HouseReported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
2/25/2025HouseIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
2/24/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
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