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SB 25-004

Regulating Child Care Center Fees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 26 co-sponsors

Regulates child care center fees to boost transparency and fairness, requiring itemized fee disclosures and limiting certain charges to protect families.

Governor Signed
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 25-004

Summary — SB 25-004: Regulating Child Care Center Fees

Status: Governor Signed (March 26, 2025)
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Primary Sponsors: Janice Marchman; Jenny Willford; Lorena García; Faith Winter
Cosponsors: S. Woodrow, M. Lindsay, A. Boesenecker, D. Michaelson Jenet, A. Valdez, T. Exum, T. Story, N. Hinrichsen, I. Jodeh, L. Cutter, S. Camacho, J. Amabile, M. Froelich, S. Lieder, E. Hamrick, J. Bridges, M. Rutinel, L. Gilchrist, M. Duran, J. Coleman, K. Brown, C. Kolker, B. Titone

Note: The full bill text was not provided. The summary below describes the bill’s purpose and likely areas affected based on its title and legislative history, together with procedural details. Consult the enacted bill text for exact statutory language, dates, and specific numeric limits or definitions.

Purpose and Intent

SB 25-004 is intended to regulate fees charged by child care centers. The bill’s general purpose is to increase transparency and limit certain fee practices so families face clearer, fairer, and more predictable costs for child care services. It aims to protect parents from unexpected charges and to ensure child care providers follow consistent, documented fee policies.

Key provisions (summary of likely elements)

Because the bill text is not provided here, the items below reflect typical statutory approaches to “regulating child care center fees” and indicate the kinds of provisions the enacted bill is likely to include:

  • Fee disclosure requirements: Mandates that child care centers provide families with written, itemized fee schedules (enrollment fees, tuition, supply fees, late pick-up fees, etc.) and notice of changes in advance.
  • Limits or prohibitions on certain fees: Caps or bans on enrollment deposits, excessive late fees, or termination/withdrawal penalties; rules on when and how retention of deposits is permitted.
  • Refund and closure rules: Requirements for refunding prepaid fees if a center closes, reduces service, or fails to provide contracted care.
  • Notice periods for rate changes: Minimum advance notice (e.g., 30 days) before increasing recurring charges.
  • Contract and billing standards: Standardized contract terms, prohibitions on surprise billing, and recordkeeping requirements for fee assessments.
  • Consumer protections and dispute resolution: Procedures for resolving fee disputes; possible civil penalties for violations.
  • Enforcement and oversight: Assignment of enforcement authority to a state agency (e.g., Department of Early Childhood or Department of Human Services) with rulemaking or complaint-handling powers.

Who is affected

  • Families and guardians who use licensed child care centers — greater transparency and potential limitation of unexpected fees.
  • Licensed child care centers and providers — will need to update contracts, billing practices, notices, and recordkeeping to comply.
  • State licensing or regulatory agencies — may receive new enforcement responsibilities, including complaint intake, investigations, and potential rulemaking.

Procedural timeline / Legislative actions

  • Introduced in Senate (Business, Labor, & Technology): 2025-01-08
  • Passed both chambers with amendments and concurrence; House and Senate signatures completed mid-March 2025.
  • Sent to Governor: 2025-03-20
  • Governor Signed: 2025-03-26

Next steps / Where to find the enacted text

To determine the exact obligations, any caps, effective dates, enforcement mechanisms, and exceptions, consult the final enrolled bill text and any implementing rules issued by the relevant state agency. Contact offices of the primary sponsors or the legislative services website for the official statute language and effective date.

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

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