EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER REQS
Summary
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.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Apr 14, 2025
Signed Aug 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Aug 15, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized by adding precise definitions for 'institution of higher education' to ensure clarity on which colleges qualify for the course list. The scope of the course list was expanded to explicitly include online and out-of-state courses, and the responsible agencies were updated to include the Community College Board. Additionally, the training requirement for staff was broadened from just 'licensing representatives' to all 'applicable State staff'.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include online courses and out-of-state institutions, and the entities responsible for oversight were updated to include the Community College Board.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'institution of higher education' that explicitly includes online, correspondence, and out-of-state colleges offering early childhood degrees.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the requirement for the course list to be published in collaboration with the Community College Board, Board of Higher Education, and Department of Children and Family Services.
Expanded the training mandate from 'licensing representatives' to 'applicable State staff' to ensure broader internal compliance.
Updated the list of stakeholders providing input to include 'established child care providers' instead of 'organizations'.
Floor votes · Senate May 30, 2025 · House Apr 10, 2025
How they voted
56–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 58
May 30, 2025
D
Democratic39
97% Yea
R
Republican19
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
69
Key actions
17
Committee
22
Amendments
13
Aug 15, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Approved
lower
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Both Houses
lower
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 112-000-000
lower
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 011-000-000
lower
May 31, 2025
Committee
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
lower
May 30, 2025
Committee
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
lower
May 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Mary Beth Canty
lower
May 30, 2025
Introduced
Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 2
lower
May 30, 2025
Introduced
Arrived in House
lower
May 30, 2025
Amended
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)
upper
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Do Pass as Amended Child Welfare; 007-000-000
upper
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted
upper
May 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Child Welfare
upper
May 6, 2025
Committee
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
upper
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare
upper
May 2, 2025
Committee
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
upper
May 2, 2025
Introduced
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Child Welfare
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Amended
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-000
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 013-000-000
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Amended
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 014-000-000
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Introduced
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 9 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mary Beth Canty
DDemocratic
P
Meg Loughran Cappel
DDemocratic
Co
Christopher Belt
DDemocratic
Co
Doris Turner
DDemocratic
Co
Jed Davis
RRepublican
Co
Julie Morrison
DDemocratic
Co
Laura Faver Dias
DDemocratic
Co
Margaret Croke
DDemocratic
Co
Mary Edly-Allen
DDemocratic
Co
Murri Briel
DDemocratic
Co
Thaddeus Jones
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 3446
Scope: IL
Hi! I can help you understand HB 3446. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline