HB3446 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER REQS
Last Action
08/15/2025 - House: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0309
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
225 ILCS 10/3.02 new  
225 ILCS 10/9.1d new  
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that coursework related to psychology shall count toward the semester hours that an early childhood teacher must obtain to be qualified as an early childhood teacher. Provides that, before July 1, 2026, the Department of Children and Family Services shall publish and maintain on its website a full and complete list of courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications for a child care teacher. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2026, the Department of Early Childhood shall publish and maintain on its website a full and complete list of courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications for a child care teacher.

House Floor Amendment No. 3
Deletes reference to:
225 ILCS 10/3.02 new  
Adds reference to:
225 ILCS 10/9.1e new  
225 ILCS 10/9.1f new  
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood shall publish and regularly update, at least once per year, a comprehensive list of college courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications for an early childhood teacher or director on its website. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early Childhood shall create a process to verify courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications for an early childhood teacher and director in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Illinois Community College Board, the Board of Higher Education, and, until January 1, 2027, the Department of Children and Family Services. Sets forth requirements for the process established under the amendatory provisions. Provides that licensing representatives must be trained on the use of the course list, the prohibitions for the course list, and the impartial oversight review process. Provides that the Department of Early Childhood may, at its discretion, contract with a third party organization that is a recognized industry expert in early childhood development and child care employee credentialing to perform the duties under the amendatory provisions. Provides that the Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to implement the amendatory provisions.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 2
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Defines "institution of higher education". In provisions concerning the public list of qualified courses, provides that, to help the Department of Early Childhood determine whether an institution of higher education's early childhood college courses meet the requirements under the Illinois Administrative Code, each institution of higher education shall submit, in a format and on a time line prescribed by the Department of Early Childhood, information about such courses. Removes advocacy organizations from organizations that the Department of Early Childhood is required to seek input and feedback from regarding the development of a process to verify early childhood courses. Removes provisions permitting the Department of Early Childhood to contract with a third party organization to perform the duties required under the amendatory provisions. Provides that any applicable State staff (rather than relevant licensing representatives) must be trained on the use of the course list, the prohibitions for the course list, and the impartial oversight review process. Makes other changes.
Actions
DateChamberAction
02/07/2025HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
02/18/2025HouseFirst Reading
02/18/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
03/07/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret Croke
03/11/2025HouseAssigned to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
03/18/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
03/18/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
03/19/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
03/20/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 014-000-000
03/20/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled
03/20/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
03/21/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jed Davis
03/26/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
03/26/2025HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
04/07/2025HouseChief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Mary Beth Canty
04/07/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
04/09/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 013-000-000
04/10/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted
04/10/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
04/10/2025HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-000
04/10/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled
04/14/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel
04/14/2025SenateArrive in Senate
04/14/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
04/14/2025SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
04/14/2025SenateFirst Reading
04/14/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
04/29/2025SenateAssigned to Child Welfare
05/02/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
05/02/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
05/06/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare
05/06/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
05/06/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
05/06/2025SenatePostponed - Child Welfare
05/07/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Child Welfare
05/07/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare
05/09/2025SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025
05/13/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted
05/14/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Child Welfare; 007-000-000
05/14/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 15, 2025
05/14/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones
05/15/2025SenateSecond Reading
05/15/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 20, 2025
05/21/2025SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
05/23/2025SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025
05/30/2025SenateThird Reading - Passed; 057-000-000
05/30/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)
05/30/2025HouseArrived in House
05/30/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 2
05/30/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Mary Beth Canty
05/30/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
05/31/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
05/31/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 011-000-000
05/31/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 112-000-000
05/31/2025HouseHouse Concurs
05/31/2025HousePassed Both Houses
05/31/2025SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
05/31/2025SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt
05/31/2025SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner
06/24/2025HouseSent to the Governor
08/15/2025HouseGovernor Approved
08/15/2025HouseEffective Date January 1, 2026
08/15/2025HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0309