Bill
Bill > AB349
WI AB349
WI AB349Allowing certified child care operators to provide care to up to six children. (FE)
summary
Introduced
07/08/2025
07/08/2025
In Committee
07/08/2025
07/08/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to, for compensation including payments under Wisconsin Shares, provide care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. A person who provides care for fewer than four children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day may receive Wisconsin Shares payments if the person is certified by DCF. Under current DCF rules, a person certified by DCF, called a certified child care operator, may care for up to three children who are unrelated to the operator and up to six children in total. Under this bill, certified child care operators may care for up to six children under the age of seven in total, regardless of whether the children are related to the operator.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Wisconsin's child care regulations to allow certified child care operators to provide care for up to six children under the age of seven, regardless of whether the children are related to the provider. Currently, certified providers (those who care for fewer than four children under seven) are limited to caring for three unrelated children and six children total. The bill introduces some nuanced exceptions: if the provider is caring for three children under two years old, they may care for up to five children total, and if caring for four children under two years old, they may care for up to four children total. This change is intended to provide more flexibility for small, home-based child care providers while still maintaining safety guidelines. The bill amends existing statutes related to child care licensing, specifically sections 48.65 and 48.651, and requires that providers still meet minimum department requirements and pay necessary licensing fees. The modifications aim to potentially increase child care availability and support small-scale child care providers by allowing them to care for slightly more children.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (21)
Scott Allen (R)*,
Elijah Behnke (R)*,
Robert Brooks (R)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R)*,
Cindi Duchow (R)*,
Joy Goeben (R)*,
Chanz Green (R)*,
Rick Gundrum (R)*,
Nate Gustafson (R)*,
Karen Hurd (R)*,
Brent Jacobson (R)*,
Dean Kaufert (R)*,
Dan Knodl (R)*,
Rob Kreibich (R)*,
Dave Murphy (R)*,
Amanda Nedweski (R)*,
Jerry O'Connor (R)*,
John Spiros (R)*,
Duke Tucker (R)*,
Romaine Quinn (R),
Cory Tomczyk (R),
Last Action
Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families (on 07/08/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab349 |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB349.pdf |
Loading...