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S 206VERMONTSession 2025-2026State Billpassed chamber
Passed

Vermont creates Board of Early Childhood Educators and requires professional licensure for early childhood staff

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

Last action · April 30, 2026: 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 toSponsor: Virginia Lyons

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

The bill establishes a new Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators under the to license early childhood educators starting July 1, 2028, with initial application fees ranging from $125 to $225. Individuals providing care and instruction to children from birth through eight years of age in regulated child care programs must hold a license unless exempt. The legislation also appropriates $262,000 in 2027 to set up the program and intends to distribute $1.4 million in fiscal year 2028 to cover initial and renewal application fees.

Why it matters

Changes professional requirements for child care workers across the state by establishing mandatory credential tiers, mandatory continuing education, and a formal disciplinary process overseen by a dedicated state board.

Background
  • The Office of Professional Regulation is an administrative unit housed within the Office of the Vermont Secretary of State that oversees dozens of professional licensing boards and professions. context
  • Sen. Virginia Lyons introduced S.206 during the 2025-2026 legislative session in the Vermont upper house. context

Who It Would Affect

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

Directly affected

early childhood educators

Educators must meet new educational, experiential, and fee requirements to obtain and maintain professional licensure.

Directly affected

family child care providers

Providers must apply for licensure and maintain good standing with the Child Development Division to operate under the new statutory framework.

Directly affected

Office of Professional Regulation

The office gains new staff positions, administrative duties, and oversight responsibilities for licensing early childhood educators.

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

Who is required to obtain a license under this bill?
Individuals providing care and educational instruction to children from birth through eight years of age in a program regulated by the must be licensed, unless specifically exempt.
Are current family child care providers automatically qualified?
A Family Child Care Provider is qualified for licensure if authorized by the to operate a family child care home and in good standing with the Division as of January 1, 2029.
What education is required for an Early Childhood Educator III license?
Applicants must have received a bachelor's degree from an approved program in early childhood education or a related field requiring at least 120 college credits, or a degree in an unrelated field with a minimum of 21 approved college credits in core early childhood education competency areas.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

36 actions
  1. Apr 30, 2026HouseCommittee
    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
  2. Mar 24, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Read first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
  3. Mar 19, 2026Senate
    Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Mattos
  4. Mar 19, 2026SenateFloor
    Read 3rd time & passed on roll call, requested by Senator Mattos , Passed -- Needed 14 of 28 to Pass -- Yeas = 22, Nays = 6
  5. Mar 19, 2026Senate
    Pending third reading, bill amended as moved by Senator(s) Bongartz
  6. Mar 19, 2026Senate
    New Business/Third Reading
Show 30 earlier actions
  1. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    3rd reading ordered
  2. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Senator Heffernan explained vote
  3. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Senator Beck explained vote
  4. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Baruth
  5. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    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
  6. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare , as amended, agreed to
  7. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Weeks
  8. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Senator(s) Heffernan motion to commit bill to Committee on Education disagreed to on roll call requested by Sen. Weeks , Failed -- Needed 14 of 28 to Pass -- Yeas = 9, Nays = 19
  9. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare amended as recommended by Committee on Appropriations
  10. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Reported favorably by Senator Lyons for Committee on Appropriations with recommendation of amendment
  11. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Reported favorably by Senator Hardy for Committee on Finance
  12. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Gulick for Committee on Health and Welfare
  13. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
  14. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Favorable report by Committee on Finance
  15. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare
  16. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Second Reading
  17. Mar 17, 2026Senate
    Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Appropriations
  18. Mar 17, 2026Senate
    Favorable report by Committee on Finance
  19. Mar 17, 2026Senate
    Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare
  20. Mar 17, 2026Senate
    Second Reading
  21. Mar 17, 2026Senate
    Entered on Notice Calendar
  22. Mar 11, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
  23. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Favorable report by Committee on Finance
  24. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare
  25. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Second Reading
  26. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Entered on Notice Calendar
  27. Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
  28. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare
  29. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Entered on Notice Calendar
  30. Jan 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and Welfare

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Virginia LyonsPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Creation of Dedicated Early Childhood Licensing Board

Vermont is moving early childhood educators under the direct regulatory umbrella of the Office of Professional Regulation through a newly established specialized board.

Office of Professional RegulationVermont Board of Early Childhood Educators

Connected Entities

Governor, Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators, Child Development Division and 4 more
PersonGovernor“Appoints members of the Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators.”Map →
OrganizationVermont Board of Early Childhood Educators“Newly created nine-member board responsible for adopting rules, issuing licenses”Map →
OrganizationChild Development Division“Regulates family child care homes and center-based child care programs where lic”Map →
OrganizationOffice of Professional Regulation“Houses the newly created Vermont Board of Early Childhood Educators and provides”Map →
OrganizationAgency of Education“Licenses teachers with endorsements in early childhood education, special educat”Map →
OrganizationDepartment for Children and Families“Houses the Child Development Division.”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Enacted the legislation and authorized appropriations.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

legislature.vermont.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy45
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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