HB1242 • 2026

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: 2026-05-26
Official status: Subject to call - Senate final passage - Sched. for 5/27/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific conditions for issuing multiple licenses, nor does it mention whether this affects other types of licenses.

Early Learning Center Licenses

This bill allows the Louisiana Department of Education to issue multiple Type III licenses 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 more than one Type III license for early learning centers in the same place where a public or nonpublic 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 that provide care and education for children from birth through age five.
Early learning center: A place where young children receive care and educational activities before they start elementary school.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what the specific conditions are for issuing multiple licenses.
It is unclear how this change will affect existing early learning centers or schools.

Bill History

2026-05-26 S
Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
2026-05-26 S
Rules suspended.
2026-05-20 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-19 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-18 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-27 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
2026-04-22 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
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.
2026-04-21 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/22/2026.
2026-04-20 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
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).
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.