Colorado requires state child care inspections, employee record-keeping, and creates a licensure task force

Original title: Child Care Provider Licensing & Quality

Last action · June 1, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Matt Ball and 32 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Does

Colorado law requires licensed child care facilities to keep up-to-date employee records in the state's professional development system and directs the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) to phase out reliance on third-party license investigators by July 1, 2026. The measure also caps local licensing fees, prioritizes delayed municipal reviews, and establishes a task force to recommend licensing improvements by January 1, 2027.

Why it matters

Child care facilities and local governments face new mandates regarding staff record-keeping, inspection staffing shifts from contractors to state personnel, and fee restrictions on municipal child care approvals.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

licensed child care facilities

Facilities must maintain up-to-date employee records in the state professional development information system and interact with state-led inspection personnel.

Directly affected

local governing authorities

Municipalities imposing local requirements beyond state standards must limit associated fees and prioritize delayed or disputed approval processes.

Directly affected

Colorado Department of Early Childhood

The department must adopt record rules, phase out third-party inspection reliance, establish standardized training protocols, and administer the new task force.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

When must the state take over child care inspections from third parties?

On or before July 1, 2026, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood must begin phasing out its reliance on third parties to investigate and inspect facilities applying for certain types of child care licenses.

What is the deadline for the new child care licensure task force to report its recommendations?

The task force must report its recommendations on or before January 1, 2027.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

17 actions

Jun 1, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Governor Signed
May 22, 2026SenateFloor
Signed by the President of the Senate
May 22, 2026HouseFloor
Signed by the Speaker of the House
May 22, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Sent to the Governor
May 8, 2026Senate
Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
May 7, 2026HouseFloor
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

Show 11 earlier actions

May 6, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
May 6, 2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
Apr 30, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
Apr 23, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on Education Refer Amended to Finance
Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Apr 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Education
Apr 10, 2026SenateCommittee
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
Apr 10, 2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
Apr 10, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
Feb 25, 2026SenateCommittee
Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations
Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education

Version history

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