IllinoisHB1168104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

DAY CARE CENTER-CIVIC ORG

Sponsored By: Terra Costa Howard (Democratic)

Became Law

child care accessibility & early childhood educationassignmentshealth and human services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

School and church preschool programs exempt

Preschool programs for children who are 3 but not yet 4 at enrollment are not treated as licensed day care if they are recognized by the State Board of Education, or are run by a registered school that is nationally or multistate accredited. Church or religious 501(c)(3) programs that are part of a religious nonprofit elementary school or mainly provide religious education also qualify if they take no government aid and meet health and fire safety rules. The law defines “age 3” to mean a child who is 3 but less than 4 at enrollment for these rules.

After-school programs outside day care licensing

Programs that serve only school‑age kids (full‑time kindergarten or older) and run when school is out are not licensed day care centers. To qualify, they follow health and fire rules, have emergency plans and drills, keep first‑aid kits, post emergency numbers, keep a working phone, ban weapons, and carry liability insurance set by the Department. They must run Illinois State Police and FBI fingerprint checks and check sex‑offender and child‑abuse registries for staff and volunteers who work with children. They cannot hire people with certain barrier crimes. Parents get a written notice that the program is not licensed, and programs keep child and parent contact info and medical authorization on file. If a program gets State or federal funds, it follows staff training and qualification rules set by the funder.

Child care on federal sites exempt

Any child care run on federal government property is not a state‑licensed day care center under this law.

On-site shopping care not licensed

Child care run with a shopping center, service, religious service, or similar place is not a day care center when children are watched only temporarily and parents stay on site and are readily available.

Part-day child care excluded

If a facility meets the law’s part‑day child care definition, it is not treated as a licensed day care center. This keeps short‑duration programs outside full day‑care licensing.

Special-needs programs not day care

Programs that only serve children with disabilities ages 3 to under 21 are not treated as licensed day care if they are registered and approved to meet State Board of Education standards and meet fire marshal standards. This keeps these specialized programs under school and safety rules, not day‑care licensing.

Who counts as a day care center

A child care provider that cares for children for less than 24 hours a day is a day care center if it serves more than 8 children in a family home, or more than 3 children in a non‑home facility. Being a day care center means licensing and other rules apply.

Short civic kids programs exempt

Organized activities like sports, recreation, and crafts run by civic, charitable, or government groups (including park districts and arboretums) are not day care if they serve kids age 3+, run no more than 3.5 hours at a time, and no more than 25 hours in a week. Park districts and arboretums must run background checks on employees as the law requires. Programs that meet these limits are outside day‑care licensing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Terra Costa Howard
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Laura Ellman
Democratic • Senate
Nicole La Ha
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 206 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/22/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 58 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/30/2025

Do Pass Health and Human Services;

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 114 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education;

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education;