Policy Committee Hearing Exposes How Pennsylvania’s Burdensome Child Care Regulations Are Failing Families, Businesses

June 20, 2025

DANVILLE—Today, Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) and Rep. Michael Stender (R-Northumberland/Montour) hosted a hearing, “Over-Regulation in Child Care,” to address the obstacles the child care industry faces in Pennsylvania and the desperate need to better align Pennsylvania’s regulatory environment to meet the industry’s needs and help parents.

Testifiers included Aaron Riggleman, manager, government affairs, PA Chamber of Business & Industry; Jen Segelken, senior vice president, youth development, YMCA of Greater Philadelphia; and Ambria Salavantis, head of school, Small Wonders and Wilkes-Barre Academy.

There was a common theme throughout the testimony given: Pennsylvania’s child care regulations are not only excessive, but they also lack flexibility and common sense. As a result, child care providers are being driven out of business. At the same time, the child care crisis is taking an immense toll on parents—especially working moms and dads—who are desperate for safe, reliable child care but are met with waitlists and closures.

“Today’s hearing shed light on how well-meaning regulations are creating real burdens for those caring for our children,” said Stender. “From requiring college degrees for qualified workers to unnecessary restrictions on playground use and sanitation, these rules are out of touch with everyday realities. It’s time to remove the red tape and make commonsense reforms that support families, providers and the kids who depend on them.”

"During today's hearing, we learned the true cost of overregulation in Pennsylvania's child care industry," said Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), majority chair of the House Children and Youth Committee. "There is an economic cost to the state. The Commonwealth loses about $3.4 billion due to inefficiencies in the child care system; but there is also a human cost. Providers foot the bill to comply with excessive regulations. Parents pay the price when their child is turned away for the day because of staffing shortages. And, most importantly, children lose out when regulations hold providers back from serving our kids to the full extent they're able.

"I look forward to taking the conversations we had with expert testifiers back to Harrisburg, so we can change the child care landscape to benefit providers, children and families," Klunk concluded.

“Today’s testimony made it clear: our government is failing Pennsylvania child care providers, parents, and the children. We are punishing an industry we desperately need with petty technicalities that have no bearing on a child’s well-being,” said Rowe. “We all want children to be safe. But when our state regulations become so burdensome that they burn out our dedicated child care providers or make it harder to open a child care business, it’s families who end up paying the price—either in higher costs or fewer options. That’s not safer. That’s broken. Child care providers, parents, and Pennsylvania deserve a better government, not a bigger one.”