HF 4316 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Licensing actions modified to indicate whether a violation was self-reported, and child care programs required to give parents materials on how to recognize abuse.

This bill modifies how Minnesota handles background checks and maltreatment investigations for child care centers. It requires the state commissioner to notify child care license holders when a background study reveals an individual has been responsible for maltreating a minor, even if the person is not disqualified from working with children. Additionally, the bill makes child care center directors and license holders responsible for systemic maltreatment that occurs over more than one month or in more than two instances, requiring written documentation of these findings. The legislation also clarifies notification procedures for when individuals pose risks of harm, specifying different requirements based on the level of risk and whether continuous supervision is needed.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 6 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

This bill shifts the legislative focus from child care background studies to general child care licensing and safety. It introduces new mechanisms for minor violations, such as 'fix-it tickets' and documented technical assistance, while requiring licensees to self-report violations to receive leniency. Additionally, it mandates that parents receive educational materials on recognizing abuse and that all serious sanctions publicly indicate whether the licensee self-reported the issue.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from specific background study notifications to broader licensing actions, including new provisions for minor non-compliance and mandatory parent education on abuse recognition.

REQUIREMENT

Requires licensed child care centers and family child care providers to provide parents with written materials and post a poster on how to recognize signs of physical abuse and neglect.

Mandates that all license suspensions, fines, and revocations posted online must indicate whether the licensee self-reported the violation.

Establishes a 'fix-it ticket' system for low-risk violations that can be corrected within 48 hours, replacing correction orders for minor issues.

Introduces 'documented technical assistance' as an alternative to penalties for low-risk non-compliance if the licensee self-reports the issue.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed provisions regarding background study disqualifications for individuals found responsible for maltreatment but not disqualified under previous standards.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date for all new provisions to January 15, 2027.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and Means

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors