Directs the department of social services to establish an outdoor, nature-based child care pilot project

The pilot program timeline was adjusted to end four years after the effective date, with a brief report due within two years and a full report due within three years.

The requirement to convene an advisory group of practitioners was removed, and the department now advises itself on developing guidelines.

Specific training requirements were condensed to focus on navigation, flora/fauna familiarity, and wilderness first aid, while removing detailed lists of fire drills and minor injury reporting.

Pilot site selection criteria were updated to explicitly prioritize a mix of rural, urban, and suburban locations and areas with high waitlists.

The definition of 'outdoor, nature-based child care' was slightly refined to specify that curriculum must employ nature to teach enrolled children.

Added multiple sponsors to the bill and updated committee referral history to reflect its journey through the legislature.

Clarified the outdoor time requirement in the new definition, specifying it is the lesser of four hours per day or fifty percent of total daily program hours.

Changed the language regarding licensing rules from mandatory ('shall') to permissive ('may'), allowing the state to waive or adapt existing indoor rules for outdoor programs.