Council Frustrated With New Day Care Laws
- ICAP
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
May 6, 2025 - Anthony Kuipers
The Moscow City Council on Monday expressed fears that new Idaho laws repealing the city’s day care regulations will hurt children and families.
House Bill 243 and House Bill 312, which go into effect July 1, removes local authority over regulation of day care facilities. It also establishes new state standards for day cares.
Moscow established day care regulations in 1993 that required licenses, liability insurance, background checks, first-aid certification and minimum ages for owners and employees.
These standards, which were adjusted with input from local day care providers, are more stringent than the state’s standards set by HB 243.
For example, Idaho’s regulations change the child-to-employee ratio for day cares. Most notably, Moscow required one employee for every three infants ages 1 and under. The new Idaho law allows six infants for every one employee.
Moscow’s regulations were also stricter when it came to offenses that would disqualify someone from being allowed to work at or operate a day care.
Both Moscow and the state prohibit employees who have been charged or found guilty of crimes, but Moscow’s rules are stricter because they also prohibit people who “admitted to the elements of any offense,” even if charges were not filed. Moscow also includes indecent exposure as a disqualifying offense.
Idaho’s new law requires only four hours of CPR and first aid training every year for employees, while Moscow required 12 hours of training annually.
The city councilors said these looser regulations from the state will put children at risk.
Councilor Julia Parker called the law “dangerous” and “damaging.” She said it will hurt families looking for the cheapest day care because there will be providers who “max out” the child-per-staff ratio.
“I think the state law hurts our most vulnerable citizens, our youngest children,” she said.
Councilor Bryce Blankenship said the Idaho law “makes my stomach turn” and Councilor Sandra Kelly called it “repugnant.”
Drew Davis said day cares should be under local control and said Idaho legislators should be asked if they would send their children or grandchildren to day cares following these rules.
The Moscow City Council could have voted against repealing the city ordinance, but City Administrator Bill Belknap said Moscow would not be able to enforce this ordinance because it is superseded by the state law. He also warned that leaving the ordinance on the city’s books would only confuse residents.
That is why four out of the six city councilors voted in favor of repealing the city ordinance despite their grievances with it. Julia Parker and Sandra Kelly voted no.
The Moscow City Council also begrudgingly repealed a city ordinance regarding indecent exposure after the Idaho Legislature passed a law expanding the crime’s definition.
The lengthy new definition from HB 270 prohibits toys or products that resemble male or female genitals, which made the city councilors question if this includes artwork.
The councilors also said the vague law will be difficult for police to enforce. In addition to the toys or products, the law prohibits the exposure of genitals or breasts “in any public place, or in any place where this is a present another person or persons who are offended or annoyed.…”
The council unanimously approved repealing the city ordinance because it would be unable to enforce it anyway.
In other news, the Moscow City Council approved a one-time contribution of $5,000 to support a new bus route connecting Colfax, Albion, Pullman and Moscow.
The Council on Aging and Human Services is expanding its public transit service between the cities. It has received funding commitments from the Pullman Downtown Association, Avista, Colfax Thrifty Grandmothers, the Kiwanis Club of Colfax, the Colfax Downtown Association and the Colfax Chamber of Commerce.
City councilors who supported it say the bus service will help residents in rural areas access health care and shopping opportunities in Moscow. Councilors Hailey Lewis and Gina Taruscio voted against it out of concern that more contributions will be asked of Moscow. They also want to know what the anticipated ridership will be.
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