The Anchorage Assembly on July 15 adopted AO 2025‑70, updates to the Anchorage Child Care Licensing Code (AMC ch. 16.55) that remove certain municipal requirements and align staffing ratios with state childcare regulations. The vote was unanimous, 12‑0, after assembly amendments.

Major changes
- Aligns municipal child‑care ratios (including school‑age ratios) with the state table adopted in the ordinance, reducing administrative conflict for providers using state standards.
- Removes a municipal requirement that small in‑home child‑care providers carry municipal‑specified liability insurance. Instead, the assembly adopted an amendment requiring that providers disclose in writing to parents whether they carry liability insurance.

Why the changes were proposed
Licensing staff and providers said the local code created barriers for small in‑home providers and infant care operations, contributing to a shortage of licensed spots. Testimony from center directors and the Alaska After School Network emphasized workforce constraints and long wait lists; several testifiers urged alignment with state ratios to expand capacity while retaining safety standards.

Insurance and disclosure
The assembly debated whether to keep an insurance mandate for in‑home providers. Supporters of removal said specialty commercial policies are expensive and sometimes unavailable for small home providers; several members said many families rely on their own insurance to cover minor injuries and that disclosure gives parents informed choice. The assembly adopted an amendment to require written disclosure of a provider’s insurance status to prospective families.

Next steps
The ordinance takes effect following standard charter timelines and implementation by the municipal licensing office. Members asked for continued attention to infant care capacity and for state advocacy on obstacles such as square‑footage rules and other constraints that affect infant centers.