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HB121 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSING.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSING.

Children
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Chukwuocha
Last action
2025-07-23
Official status
Signed 7/23/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify how the act will be implemented and enforced, leaving some uncertainty in these areas.

Exemption from State Child Care Licensing for Military Family Providers

This act removes certain military family child care providers from state licensing requirements if they serve only children eligible for Department of Defense subsidized care and meet specific criteria.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes state child care licensing requirements for military family child care providers serving only children eligible for Department of Defense (DoD) subsidized care.
  • Requires these providers to be located on a military base or federal property, or certified by the DoD or U.S. Coast Guard.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Military family child care providers who meet specific criteria.
  • Children eligible for Department of Defense subsidized care.

Terms To Know

Military Family Child Care Provider
A family child care home or large family child care home that serves only dependent children eligible for Department of Defense (DoD) subsidized care and meets specific criteria set by the DoD or U.S. Coast Guard.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify what happens if a military family child care provider fails to meet the exemption criteria.
  • It is unclear how this change will be implemented and enforced by state agencies.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-23 Delaware General Assembly

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. 2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits

  4. 2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 3 ABSENT

  5. 2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

  6. 2025-05-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 1 Favorable, 12 On Its Merits

  7. 2025-05-07 Delaware General Assembly

    Not Worked in Committee

  8. 2025-04-16 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSING.
This Act exempts from state child care licensing requirements a military family child care provider that serves only children eligible for Department of Defense subsidized care that is either located on a military base or federal property, certified as a family child care provider by a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard, or both.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Chukwuocha & Sen. Poore

Reps. Cooke, Yearick, Collins, Hilovsky, Ortega; Sens. Hoffner, Wilson, Buckson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 121

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE LICENSING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 30A, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:

§ 3002A. Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter:

(1) c. “Child care” does not include

any of the following:

1. Individual

individual

foster or adoptive homes in which children have been placed by a State-licensed child placing agency.

2. Military family child care providers.

(5) “Military family child care provider” means a family child care home or large family child care home that serves only dependent children eligible for Department of Defense subsidized care and is one or both of the following:

a. Located on a military base or federal property.

b. Certified as a family child care provider by a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard.

§ 3004A. Child care licenses; investigation; requirements; notice; hearings and appeals.

(d) (1) This section applies to an entity under state ownership and control that operates an early education program. Only the early education program must be licensed and meet OCCL requirements.

(2) This section does not apply to

any of the following:

a.

a

A

maternity ward of a general hospital.

b. A military family child care provider.

(3) The U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard, or their agents, including an installation commander of a military base on which a military family child care provider is located, must assume responsibility for approving or determining which children are served by the military family child care providers that are exempt from this section.

Section 2. This Act takes effect 60 days after its enactment into law.

SYNOPSIS

This Act exempts from state child care licensing requirements a military family child care provider that serves only children eligible for Department of Defense subsidized care that is either located on a military base or federal property, certified as a family child care provider by a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard, or both.