It was a busy week for child-centered policy in the Ohio Statehouse. Representatives introduced five house bills that would support child care access in the state. They are:
HB 570: Provides publicly funded child care benefits to child care staff members. Introduced by Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake).
HB 576: Authorizes nonrefundable tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures. Introduced by Reps. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison).
HB 577: Authorizes a refundable income tax credit for certain child care expenses. Introduced by Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering).
HB 578: Authorizes a nonrefundable income tax credit for contributions to certain child care programs. Introduced by Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering).
HB 580: Makes foster caregivers and kinship caregivers eligible for publicly funded child care. Introduced by Reps. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth).
These bills come at a crucial time for children and their families. Child care costs around the nation continue to rise. At the same time, the numbers of licensed child care centers and licensed family child care homes are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Groundwork Ohio appreciates the policymakers from both sides of the aisle who are stepping up and offering real solutions to these challenges. Follow us on social media for more legislative updates.