Expanding Child Care in Indiana

The lack of access to affordable child care in Indiana often keeps Hoosier parents who want to work out of the workforce. With this in mind, Senate Republicans introduced Senate Enrolled Act 4 to allow Indiana to invest more dollars in the state's Child Care and Development Fund voucher program, which helps low-income working families afford child care.

SEA 4 opened the door for the state to transfer money from the Financial Responsibility and Opportunity Fund to the CCDF voucher program.

Thanks to the work of the General Assembly, the governor recently announced $200 million in additional funding has been allocated for the CCDF voucher program. This reduces the number of families who are on a waitlist for the program.

Another law the General Assembly passed this year to support child care access is House Enrolled Act 1177. This expands eligibility for Indiana's tax credit for businesses that provide child care to their employees and allows local governments to use Tax Increment Financing revenue to support child care expansion.

Both laws build on Senate Republicans' leadership in recent years to increase access to child care for families across Indiana while living within their financial means. Senate Republicans' will continue to pursue ways to expand access to child care while being fiscally responsible.