Indy Standard

Governor Mike Braun has ceremonially signed House Enrolled Act 1253, a bill authored by State Representative Dave Heine of Fort Wayne, aimed at streamlining child care licensing procedures in Indiana. The legislation is intended to make child care services more accessible for families across the state.

Under the new law, school-based child care programs can now serve children from anywhere within their school corporation, instead of being restricted to students and staff only. The act also extends the validity of child care waivers from two years to three years.

"Many families struggle to find reliable child care, and this new law is a step toward meeting that need," Heine said. "It will give parents more choices while making it easier for providers to serve their communities."

The measure further simplifies the licensing process for providers operating multiple sites. Instead of filing separate applications and paying multiple fees, operators can now submit one application and pay a single fee for a license covering all facilities. However, each location will still be individually inspected to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.

Heine noted that House Enrolled Act 1253 is intended to reduce administrative barriers, lower costs for providers, and ultimately help decrease child care expenses for Indiana families.

For additional information about HEA 1253 and other recent legislation signed into law by Governor Braun, details are available on the official state website.