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HB1242 • 2026

EARLY CHILDHOOD: Provides relative to licenses of Type III early learning centers

EARLY CHILDHOOD: Provides relative to licenses of Type III early learning centers

Children Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Terry Landry Jr
Last action
2026-05-28
Official status
Subject to call - Senate final passage
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific conditions for issuing multiple Type III licenses, nor does it mention any changes to other types of early learning center licenses.

Early Learning Center Licenses

This bill allows the Louisiana Department of Education to issue more than one Type III license for early learning centers at the same location as a public or nonpublic school.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the state Department of Education to give out multiple Type III licenses for early learning centers in the same place where a public or private school is located.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Early learning centers applying for Type III licenses
  • The Louisiana Department of Education

Terms To Know

Type III license
A specific type of license given to early learning centers in Louisiana.
Early learning center
A place that provides care and education for children from birth to age five.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what the specific conditions are under which multiple licenses can be issued.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing early learning centers or schools.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes how certain early learning centers are licensed and adds rules about which programs don't need licenses.

  • Adds a number (1) after the word 'I' on page 1, line 9.
  • Removes the words 'or nonpublic' from page 1, line 10.
  • Inserts new text after line 11 to say that prekindergarten programs run by public or non-public schools don't need a license if they are approved under R.S. 17:24.8.
  • The exact impact of these changes on early learning centers is not fully explained in the amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-28 S

    Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

  2. 2026-05-28 S

    Called from the Calendar.

  3. 2026-05-26 S

    Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

  4. 2026-05-26 S

    Rules suspended.

  5. 2026-05-20 S

    Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  6. 2026-05-19 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  7. 2026-05-18 S

    Reported favorably.

  8. 2026-04-27 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.

  9. 2026-04-22 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  10. 2026-04-22 H

    Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  11. 2026-04-21 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 04/22/2026.

  12. 2026-04-20 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  13. 2026-04-16 H

    Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 628 reported by the Committee on Education (12-0).

  14. 2026-04-15 H

    Read by title.

Official Summary Text

EARLY CHILDHOOD: Provides relative to licenses of Type III early learning centers

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HLS 26RS-3703 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1242 (Substitute for House Bill No. 628 by Representative Terry
Landry)
BY REPRESENTATIVE TERRY LANDRY
EARLY CHILDHOOD: Provides relative to licenses of Type III early learning centers
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:407.39(I), relative to early learning centers; to authorize the state
3 Department of Education to issue more than one early learning center a license at the
4 same location under certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:407.39(I) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §407.39. Licenses; application; temporary or provisional; fees
8 * * *
9 I. The department may issue a Type III license to more than one early
10 learning center that applies for licensure at the same location as a public or nonpublic
11 school.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1242 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Terry Landry
Abstract: Authorizes the state Dept. of Education (DOE) to issue a Type III license to an
early learning center under certain circumstances.
Present law (R.S. 17:407.36) provides for types of early learning centers, centers that
provide care and education for children ages birth through five.
Proposed law authorizes DOE to issue a Type III license to more than one early learning
center that applies for licensure at the same location as a school.
(Adds R.S. 17:407.39(I))
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.