Senate committee advances OPR fee changes and proposal to license early childhood educators; ECE portion likely to shift in House

The Senate Finance Committee advanced H.472 on May 20, a bill from the Office of Professional Regulation that would both expand licensing for early childhood educators and authorize a set of new or increased professional‑regulation fees.

The Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and the Secretary of State’s office presented the bill. Lauren Hibbert, deputy secretary of state, told the committee the bill would establish individual licensure for early childhood educators, create a nine‑member board, and set a phased timeline with fees intended to cover program costs. Sharon Harrington, executive director of the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, testified the state’s workforce and recent investments make the profession ready for licensure.

Supporters said the bill creates three standard licensure tiers — ECE 1, ECE 2 and ECE 3 — plus a separate “family childcare provider” track for in‑home providers. Under the current draft, the licensure program would begin in 2027, with an eight‑year transition period allowing existing workers to meet education requirements. Hibbert described the education standards…