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SB 2389

A BILL for an Act to provide for a legislative management study regarding child care infrastructure.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Sean Cleary and 5 co-sponsors

Directs an interim study of North Dakota’s child care infrastructure (availability, affordability, funding, licensing) with findings and recommendations to the 70th Legislature.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 4 nays 41
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Bill Summary · SB 2389

SB 2389 — Legislative Management Study on Child Care Infrastructure (Summary)

Status: Second reading — failed to pass (yeas 4, nays 41)
Introduced: 2025 (sponsors: Senators Hogan, Cleary, Lee; Representatives Dobervich, Mitskog, O’Brien)
Assembly: Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
Bill type: Study / legislative management directive

Purpose / Intent

SB 2389 would direct the Legislative Management to conduct a comprehensive interim study (2025–26) of North Dakota’s child care infrastructure. The goal is to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities to improve public policy, accountability, and state investment in child care, and to produce findings and legislative recommendations for the next legislative session.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Legislative Management to study the state’s child care infrastructure during the 2025–26 interim.
  • Requires the study to include:
    • A county-by-county review of child care availability and affordability.
    • An examination of public funding streams that support child care facilities directly — including:
    • Child care assistance reimbursement levels;
    • Penetration rates of assistance by county and facility;
    • Other grant programs;
    • Enhanced reimbursements for staff with specialized training; — with the charge to recommend improvement options.
    • A review of child care licensing and registration policies and procedures to identify simplification opportunities and improvements.
  • Mandates a report of findings, recommendations, and any draft legislation necessary to implement recommendations to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Who would be affected

  • Child care providers and facility operators (licensing, reimbursement, grant access).
  • Families seeking affordable child care (availability and affordability analyses).
  • County governments and regional planners (county-level data and policy implications).
  • State agencies administering child care assistance, licensing, and grants.
  • Early childhood workforce (potential impacts to compensation and training incentives).

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Study to be conducted during the 2025–26 interim by Legislative Management.
  • Findings and any recommended legislation must be reported to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly (the next regular session).
  • Legislative actions recorded for the bill include committee referrals, a “do not pass” committee report (reported back and placed on calendar), and a second-reading vote in which the bill failed (yeas 4, nays 41).

Potential impact

  • Short term: generates county-level data and policy analysis to inform lawmakers.
  • Medium/long term: could lead to proposed statutory or budgetary changes affecting reimbursement rates, grant programs, licensing procedures, and workforce supports — with fiscal impacts depending on any future legislation adopted.
  • Because the bill only authorizes a study (rather than creating immediate program changes), its direct fiscal impact is likely limited to staff and administrative costs of conducting the study; substantive changes would require follow-up legislation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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