Senate committee hears sponsor testimony for bill proposing employer‑assisted child care credit

The Senate Finance Committee on Friday held the first hearing on Senate Bill 32, the Child Care Credit Act, a proposal to create a cost‑sharing program that would split childcare costs among employees, employers and the state and would be seeded with a $10,000,000 appropriation.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Theresa Reynolds, told the committee the program is designed “to tackle Ohio’s childcare crisis head on,” arguing high childcare costs force many parents — particularly working mothers — to reduce hours or leave the workforce. Reynolds said eligible families would be chosen by their employers and that families already receiving publicly funded childcare would be ineligible.

Reynolds and her joint sponsor described the plan as a voluntary tool for employers to attract and retain staff…