Committee sends childcare licensing bill to House floor after hours-long hearing

The Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee voted 11-4 to send House Bill 243, a measure that would replace statutory child-to-staff ratios with provider-set policies and preempt municipal daycare licensing, to the full House with a "due pass" recommendation after an hours-long hearing.

Supporters including the bill sponsor, Representative Earhart, and Rep. Rob Furnas said the measure is intended to reduce regulatory barriers and expand childcare capacity. Representative Furnas told the committee the bill "helps provide the Idaho way by reducing onerous regulations and helping parents and students find affordable daycare." Kate Haas, a bill analyst representing Wonder School, said the measure does not eliminate background checks and that the bill sets up a rulemaking process this summer to establish ratios for providers who accept federal subsidy money. "It is still a misdemeanor to operate a…