COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse continue to prioritize affordable child care statewide.

Earlier this week, State Rep. Andrea White introduced a series of bills that would make changes to the state’s foster care system and provide tax credits to families who pay for child care. Another piece of legislation is taking a different approach to make child care more affordable.

State Sen. Michele Reynolds is sponsoring a bill that would set aside $10 million and give parents the opportunity to get help from both their employer and the state to pay for child care.

What You Need To Know

  • The push for more affordable child care continues at the Ohio Statehouse

  • Lawmakers have introduced several bills looking to tackle the child care issue across Ohio 

  • Gov. Mike DeWine highlighted child care as a top priority in his State of the State address 

Gov. Mike DeWine has continued to echo that affordable child care is critical for the Buckeye State. One month ago, his administration  provided additional details on nearly $85 million in the Child Care Access Grant Program following his State of the State address. The goal was to increase the availability to licensed child care statewide. 

“To better prepare our youngest Ohioans for school, and in order to ensure Ohio’s economy can continue to grow and thrive, we need to ensure our working families have access to quality early care and education,” DeWine said in a statement. "Quality child care helps prepare children for kindergarten and encourages them to develop the skills they will need to succeed."

Lawmakers in both chambers are reflecting the governor's message of trying to put forth a better child care system. Reynolds’ new plan would take some of those costs away from parents. It would allow parents and their employers to apply to be a part of a new child care credit program under the Department of Children and Youth. Under the program, the costs of child care would be shared equally by the department, the employers, and then with the employees. 

"On average, the annual cost for child care for an infant and 4-year-old is a staggering $18,277, exceeding the average annual rent in Ohio," said Reynolds. "While Ohio provides publicly funded child care to families earning up to 130% of the federal poverty level, current state support for child care is inadequate, and is leaving many families who don't qualify for publicly funded programs like Title 20 struggling to afford child care." 

Reynolds and State Rep. Mark Johnson are both sponsoring this latest piece of legislation targeting child care. 

"This bill will retain talent, assist with child care costs, and sustain our business and child care providers," said Johnson. 

White also believes Ohio’s foster care system needs some major work. She introduced six bills this week to address a range of issues that include everything from improving Ohio’s group homes, helping pay for child care for foster children and providing tax credits for those who foot the bill.

That includes House Bill 583 with State Rep. Phil Plummer, addressing issues related to group homes caring for foster children and juveniles who are involved with the justice system. House Bill 580, sponsored by State Rep. Sharon Ray, provides funding for child care for foster children placed with families. House Bill 484, sponsored by State Rep. Bill Roemer, looks to provide resources and grants to help increase workforce care capacity. 

"It's extremely expensive," White said. "And, so for us to encourage and invite more family homes, we need to step up and help pay for child care." 

On the other hand, House Bill 576, sponsored by State Rep. Cindy Abrams, would provide child care tax credits for businesses supporting employees through various child care benefits. Another push,House Bill 578, would provide a tax credit for contributions by LLCs for particular child care programs.