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Committee approves bill requiring family childcare homes to disclose firearms to parents; opponents cite stigma and fairness concerns
Summary
The Children's Committee voted to advance HB 6180, which would require family childcare home operators to disclose the number and type of firearms stored in the home and obtain parent acknowledgement. Opponents warned it singles out childcare providers and could stigmatize them.
The Children’s Committee voted Feb. 18, 2025 to send HB 6180, an act concerning notice of firearms by operators of family childcare homes, forward with a joint favorable recommendation.
What the bill would do: The proposal requires operators of licensed family childcare homes to disclose annually and upon new enrollment the number and type of firearms stored in the home. The bill requires a parent or guardian to acknowledge receipt of that notice by signature and authorizes the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to deny or revoke a license if the operator fails to comply with the notice requirement.
Committee debate: Representative Dauphine opposed the measure, saying it singled out childcare providers and amounted to an “assault on our daycare providers” who already must comply with storage and licensing rules. Representative Fazuto, who described himself as a licensed firearms owner, noted existing stringent licensing and storage requirements and urged consistency: “We don’t ask other groups that oversee children…to declare whether they carry firearms,” he said, and warned the disclosure could plant concerns among prospective parents.
Supporters argued the notice provides transparency for parents choosing a childcare provider. The motion carried on a roll call. Recorded yes votes included Representative Paris, Senator Marr, Representative Whitelander, Senator Cohen, Representative Belton, Senator Kushner and Representative Martinez; recorded no votes included Representative Dauphine, Senator Martin, Representative Lanou, Representative Mastro Francesco, Representative McGee and Representative Pezzuto.
Ending: Committee members said OEC would enforce compliance and that the parent-acknowledgement requirement is part of the bill’s implementation language. Several lawmakers said they would like to review section 2 and licensing language before the bill moves further.
Quote (direct): Representative Dauphine: “This bill…is an assault on our daycare providers that do have firearms. The fact that they have to pass…laws, the scrutiny of what is required…and the fact that we are asking them to advertise this is just not right.”
