HB3446 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)
EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER REQS
Last Action
8/15/2025 - House: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0309
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
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:
Adds reference to:
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
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2/07/2025 | House | Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias |
| 2/18/2025 | House | First Reading |
| 2/18/2025 | House | Referred to Rules Committee |
| 3/07/2025 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret Croke |
| 3/11/2025 | House | Assigned to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education |
| 3/18/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias |
| 3/18/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 3/19/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education |
| 3/20/2025 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 014-000-000 |
| 3/20/2025 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled |
| 3/20/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate |
| 3/21/2025 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jed Davis |
| 3/26/2025 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 3/26/2025 | House | Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 4/07/2025 | House | Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Mary Beth Canty |
| 4/07/2025 | House | Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias |
| 4/08/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty |
| 4/08/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 4/08/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty |
| 4/08/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 4/08/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education |
| 4/08/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education |
| 4/09/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 013-000-000 |
| 4/10/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted |
| 4/10/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate |
| 4/10/2025 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-000 |
| 4/10/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled |
| 4/14/2025 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel |
| 4/14/2025 | Senate | Arrive in Senate |
| 4/14/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading |
| 4/14/2025 | Senate | Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel |
| 4/14/2025 | Senate | First Reading |
| 4/14/2025 | Senate | Referred to Assignments |
| 4/29/2025 | Senate | Assigned to Child Welfare |
| 5/02/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel |
| 5/02/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments |
| 5/06/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare |
| 5/06/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel |
| 5/06/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments |
| 5/06/2025 | Senate | Postponed - Child Welfare |
| 5/07/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Child Welfare |
| 5/07/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare |
| 5/09/2025 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 |
| 5/13/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted |
| 5/14/2025 | Senate | Do Pass as Amended Child Welfare; 007-000-000 |
| 5/14/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 15, 2025 |
| 5/14/2025 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones |
| 5/15/2025 | Senate | Second Reading |
| 5/15/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 20, 2025 |
| 5/21/2025 | Senate | Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison |
| 5/23/2025 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 |
| 5/30/2025 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000 |
| 5/30/2025 | Senate | Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Arrived in House |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 2 |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Mary Beth Canty |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 011-000-000 |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 112-000-000 |
| 5/31/2025 | House | House Concurs |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Passed Both Houses |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner |
| 6/24/2025 | House | Sent to the Governor |
| 8/15/2025 | House | Governor Approved |
| 8/15/2025 | House | Effective Date January 1, 2026 |
| 8/15/2025 | House | Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0309 |