State regulators tell House Human Services S206 would protect children and streamline early-childhood oversight

Deputy Secretary of State Lauren Hibbert and Jennifer Coen, director of the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), told the House Human Services committee that S206 would balance public protection with workforce retention by creating an individual licensure system for early childhood educators.

Hibbert said the Sunrise review under chapter 57 and Title 26 found both potential and actual harm related to the profession’s current unregulated status and that the workforce itself asked for the review. "We still feel very strongly that S206 balances public protection needs with workforce retention measures," she said, adding that the Sunrise report includes unfiltered public feedback in an appendix for legislators to review.

OPR presented the proposal as a way to improve public identification of workers’ qualifications and give parents and facility directors an accessible, transparent view into the conduct record of individual educators. Hibbert said the proposed framework would allow OPR to handle cases of unprofessional conduct that may not reach criminal prosecution.

Coen told committee members that OPR had forecasted coordination with the Child Development Division (CDD) to ensure the individual licensure system "has a streamlining effect, not a duplicative effect." She said individual licensure would reduce burdens on facilities that otherwise must vet primary educators and that CDD confirmed S206 would simplify regulation and provide clearer standards and accountability.

"The regulation created in S206 is the only streamlined approach to professional regulation of early childhood educators," Coen said, noting OPR currently oversees more than 100,000 credentials and operates under statutory criteria in Title 26. She emphasized OPR’s intent to use variances and a phased transition to protect retention and workforce capacity.

Both witnesses referenced stakeholder engagement, including conversations with family child-care providers and advocacy groups; Coen named Building Bright Futures and cited testimony from Anna Broulette that the workforce wants regulation. OPR committed to ongoing engagement with programs and the workforce whether or not the bill passes this session.

Why it matters: Supporters framed S206 as a public-protection measure that would also create professional identity and consistent standards across public and private early-childhood settings. OPR’s representatives stressed the proposal is evidence-based and designed to be integrated with existing CDD processes.

Next steps: Committee members asked questions about implementation and transition details; OPR said required implementation plans and stakeholder outreach would be part of any rollout and that the committee would continue discussion as the bill moves through the process.