The Anchorage Municipality government meeting on June 28, 2025, focused on proposed amendments to the Anchorage Municipal Code, specifically AO 2025-70, which aims to reduce financial burdens on licensed home and child care facilities. Key discussions centered around the removal of various fees and requirements that currently impact these facilities.

One of the primary changes discussed was the elimination of annual fees, change fees, and plan review fees for child care providers. These fees can range from $50 for home licenses to as much as $375 for larger centers, depending on their capacity. The proposed amendments would relieve administrators of these financial obligations, which are seen as burdensome. However, this change is expected to result in a loss of approximately $37,000 in annual revenue for the health department.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the removal of the requirement for liability insurance, aligning with state regulations. Other proposed changes include increasing the capacity for licensed homes from six to eight children during the provisional year, adopting state ratios for school-age care, and removing the minimum enrollment age of six weeks. The amendments also aim to ease specific operational requirements, such as the need for two caregivers at all times and certain bathroom specifications that can be costly for facilities to meet.

These changes are intended to enhance the operational capacity of child care providers while reducing financial strain. The discussions highlighted the importance of aligning local regulations with state standards to support the child care sector in Anchorage. The next steps will involve further evaluation of these amendments and their potential impacts on the community.