Hearing on refundable tax credit for childcare workers draws support and concern

Senate Bill 467, which would create a refundable income tax credit for qualifying childcare facility operators and employees, was the subject of a Feb. 19 public hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue.

The bill would allow a refundable credit equal to the lesser of $2,000 or 5% of the taxpayer’s income earned as a qualifying operator or employee at a registered childcare facility. The bill as presented would allow taxpayers to direct all or part of the refund attributable to the credit into the Oregon Retirement Savings Plan (OregonSaves). The bill would apply to tax years beginning in 2026 and run through Feb. 19, 2031, as drafted.

Supporters told the committee the proposal targets low wages and high turnover among childcare workers. Courtney Bangs described her 30 years in childcare and said the credit could help…