Conference committee debates amendments to Senate Bill 2282 raising childcare tax credit, adding residency and 10‑mile limit

A Senate-House conference committee reviewed House amendments to Senate Bill No. 2282 on Thursday, saying the House raised the employer childcare tax credit to 50% and added residency and a 10‑mile radius requirement for eligible childcare providers.

Representative Foss, speaking for the House, said the changes aimed to focus the measure on attracting workers to North Dakota: "this was a workforce recruitment bill. And so we are really trying to, you know, gain employees, in this state, in North Dakota." Foss said the House increased the credit from 30% to 50% of aggregated childcare contributions.

Committee members pressed the House on two core changes: a requirement that a "qualified employee" live in North Dakota and a 10‑mile limit on where an eligible childcare provider may be located. Senator Rummel asked why the House placed any mileage restriction at all if the bill's purpose is workforce…