The House Children and Families Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on a bill designed to address the lack of access to affordable child care in the state. HB 870, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph), would create three separate tax credit programs to help stabilize the industry: for donors to childcare facilities, for employers who help pay for employees’ child care, and for childcare providers. According to Shields, only 3 percent of childcare providers that went out of business during the pandemic have returned. Her hope is that the programs would encourage donations and investments that would be used to improve facilities, staff salaries, and training.
More than a dozen groups testified in favor of the bill, including childcare providers, state and local chambers of commerce, child advocacy groups, the pro-life group Campaign Life, and the MCC. The bill must be voted out of committee before it can be considered by the entire House.