Department of Public Health and Social Services officials provided a status update on draft regulations to govern child care facilities and intergenerational day care centers, which the department transmitted to the 30th Guam Legislature on Oct. 8, 2025.

Tom Nadeau, chief environmental public health officer, told the Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs the updated rules revise definitions, clarify child‑to‑staff ratios, add temperature/humidity/ventilation standards, establish animal and pest‑management rules and set safety criteria for intergenerational sites. "As proposed, the regulation would take effect immediately upon adoption. However, existing child care facilities would have 2 years from the adoption date to achieve full compliance," Nadeau said.

DPHSS said the regulations respond to Public Law 38‑25 (which expanded the childcare definition to include intergenerational centers) and that the department is following the Administrative Adjudication Law (AAL) process. Nadeau and Leilani Navarro said AAL steps remain incomplete: an economic impact statement, publication and scheduling of an administrative public hearing, and review by the Office of the Attorney General. The department reported it recently hired five additional inspectors funded through the Child Care Block Grant to support inspections but acknowledged its inspection unit still has constrained capacity.

Panelists told senators the draft borrows adult‑day‑care provisions (the presenters cited Illinois examples) to address combined adult and child operations and emphasized the draft mostly clarifies existing requirements rather than imposing wholly new ratios or space standards. DPHSS expects to move forward on the public hearing and AAG review early next year but said AG review could take several months.

Committee members commended DPHSS for rapid drafting but asked DPHSS to complete the economic impact analysis and to ensure clear public notice so parents and providers can weigh in. DPHSS will post the formal notice and hold the administrative public hearing after required steps are complete.