S 206 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional Regulation

This bill requires Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation to establish a licensing system for early childhood educators working in child care programs regulated by the Child Development Division. It directly affects educators providing care and instruction to children from birth through age 8, creating three license levels (I, II, and III) based on education and experience. The bill establishes a nine-member Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators to develop licensing rules, handle applications, and manage complaints. Key provisions include mandatory licensure for these educators, defined practice standards (like creating safe learning environments and family engagement), and a board appointment process ensuring diverse representation.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Last action Apr 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed By the Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) → As Passed By the Senate (OfficialOpens in a new window) · 4 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

The official Senate version of S.206 makes several substantive changes from the unofficial version: it removes the public school exclusion from the definition of regulated programs, eliminates the exemption for individuals working exclusively in public schools, and removes the funding contingency provision that had made implementation dependent on appropriation. These changes collectively broaden the scope of who must be licensed as an early childhood educator.

SCOPE

The definition of 'program regulated by the Child Development Division' no longer includes the phrase 'and is not operated by a public school,' removing an explicit exclusion that had kept public school programs outside the chapter's reach.

ELIGIBILITY

Exemption (3) for 'an individual who works exclusively in a public school' was removed from section 6203(a), meaning such individuals are no longer automatically exempt from licensure requirements.

FISCAL

Section 6a (Contingency of Funding) was deleted entirely. The unofficial version had stated that the duty to implement the appropriation and positions provisions was contingent upon an actual appropriation in fiscal year 2027. The official version removes this contingency, making the funding provisions unconditional.

TECHNICAL

Duplicate amendment sections (Sec. 4 and Sec. 4a both amending section 6225) were consolidated into a single section, and the bill was renumbered accordingly (old Sec. 7 became Sec. 6). Standard legislative metadata (sponsor, committee referral, date, subject line, statement of purpose) was added to the official version.

As IntroducedOpens in a new window → As Passed By the Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) · 9 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MAJOR

The Senate version of S.206 adds a public school exemption, creates a new pathway to full ECE II licensure based on 21 college credits or equivalent experiential learning, adds a transitional license specifically for family child care home providers, inserts a legislative reporting requirement due in 2031, removes the FY2028 funding and position language along with the $1.4 million fee-waiver appropriation from the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, and adds a contingency-of-funding clause. The effective dates are also restructured to phase in the variances provisions over multiple years.

SCOPE

New exemption added in Section 6203(a)(3): individuals who work exclusively in a public school are exempt from early childhood educator licensure requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

New subsection 6225(b) allows the Board to issue a full (non-transitional) Early Childhood Educator II license to individuals who meet base eligibility requirements plus either 21 college credits in core early childhood education competency areas or prior experiential learning assessed by an accredited institution as equivalent to 21 credits.

New subsection 6225(c) creates a transitional ECE II license specifically for family child care home providers who meet ECE I requirements but not ECE II, valid for two years and renewable for two additional two-year periods.

ENFORCEMENT

New Section 5 requires the Office of Professional Regulation to submit a written report to legislative committees by November 1, 2031, covering number of licensees, resources needed, complaints and enforcement actions, qualifications, changes in family child care home numbers, and recommendations to encourage new family child care homes.

FISCAL

Removed the FY2028 intent language authorizing three additional permanent positions (licensing staff, enforcement staff, administrative staff) and appropriating $628,867 from the General Fund.

Removed the FY2028 intent to distribute $1,400,000 from the Child Care Financial Assistance Program to cover initial licensure application fees and renewal fees for early childhood educators.

New Section 6a adds a contingency-of-funding clause making implementation of the appropriation section contingent upon actual appropriation of funds in fiscal year 2027.

TIMELINE

Effective dates restructured: the variances section (Sec. 4) now takes effect January 1, 2029, and a second amendment to the same section (Sec. 4a) takes effect July 1, 2036, replacing the original single repeal date of July 1, 2036.

TECHNICAL

Section 6225 title changed from 'VARIANCES; TRANSITIONAL LICENSURE' to simply 'VARIANCES' in both the inline amendment and the separate section amendments.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2026

How they voted

20–6

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 28

Mar 19, 2026

D Democratic17

15 Yea 2

88% Yea

R Republican11

5 Yea 6 Nay

54% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. Birong of Vergennes moved that the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs be relieved of the bill and that the same be committed to the Committee on Human Services, which was agreed to

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (20-6-2)

senate

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare agreed to on roll call, requested by Senator Baruth, Passed -- Needed 14 of 28 to Pass -- Yeas = 21, Nays = 7

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare, as amended, agreed to

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably by Senator Lyons for Committee on Appropriations with recommendation of amendment

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably by Senator Hardy for Committee on Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Gulick for Committee on Health and Welfare

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report by Committee on Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report by Committee on Finance

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report by Committee on Finance

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

upper

Jan 6, 2026

Introduced

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and Welfare

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors