Indiana lawmakers have introduced several bills this legislative session to improve access and affordability of child care. (Photo/Pexels.com)This story was originally published by TheStatehouseFile.com
By Anna Cecil
TheStatehouseFile.com
January 23, 2025
Over half of Indiana parents miss work or class due to child-care problems, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce found in a study in 2024. The state loses over $1 billion in tax revenue every year.
Now the Indiana General Assembly is attempting to address child-care access and affordability in multiple bills.
Rep. Kyle Miller, D-Fort Wayne, minority chair of the House Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee, said one of his top concerns for the 2025 legislative session is access to affordable child care.
“When we increase child care access and affordability, we get a whole new group of potential workers that can come into the workforce that right now are sitting on the sidelines because child care is nonexistent or if it is, it’s exorbitantly expensive,” he said.
Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce (ICC), said the issue of child-care access is important because it will impact how Indiana is able to retain and attract workers.
“Indiana, we are such a great state to do business in, and we have so much economic development going on, … but that enthusiasm and that economic development is going to take more workforce,” Sinders said.
Miller echoed Sinders’ appeal for more Hoosier employees.
“What we hear from not only our small businesses but our large businesses is the need for workforce. The harder we make it on our workforce to enter the workforce, the worse off our businesses are going to be,” he said.
Sinders said she hopes organizations like early learning centers and educators can come alongside the business community to support child-care-friendly legislation.
House Bill 1430, filed by Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, D-Jeffersonville, will create the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership program. It would create an incentive for employers to contribute money toward child care for employees whose household income is at or below the state median.
“The cost of child care is unbelievably high, with parents typically spending around $11,000 a year on one child. This is a difficult time when everyone is experiencing financial pressure. The state legislature should do everything in its power to give people some much-needed breathing room,” Chesser said in a release from the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.
HB 1430 is waiting to be heard in the Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee.
Senate Bill 115, filed by Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, will give workers and caretakers increased access to paid family and medical leave.
“By supporting workers during life’s most important moments—whether it’s the birth of a child, caring for a sick family member, or recovering from an illness—we’re not only helping families, but we’re also strengthening our workforce and boosting our economy,” Pol said in a release from the Indiana Senate Democrats.
“SB 115 represents a step forward in making Indiana a state where workers have the freedom to balance their personal and professional lives, without the fear of losing their job or income.”
SB 115 is waiting to be heard in the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee. Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, has been added as an author.
“Right now we’re seeing the Republicans understand what an economic issue it is. It’s not just a benefit to Hoosiers or a giveaway, it’s really impacting our workforce, and it’s a true economic issue. It is going to have a fiscal impact,” Miller told TheStatehouseFile.com.
“Democrats think that it’s an investment in our people. It’s an investment in our residents and in our families.”
Anna Cecil is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
