State Rep. Chris Judy announced on April 28 that Indiana will allocate an additional $200 million in state funding to expand access to childcare.
The increased funding, approved by the State Budget Committee, is intended for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program. This move follows the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 4 during the 2026 legislative session, which allows the state to supplement CCDF funds using resources from the Financial Responsibility and Opportunity Growth (FROG) Fund. The new investment is expected to enable enrollment of approximately 14,000 more children in the CCDF voucher program.
“Expanding access to childcare is a meaningful investment in Indiana’s families and economic future,” Judy said. “By increasing support for these programs, more Hoosier parents can stay in the workforce while their children benefit from safe, high-quality early learning environments that help set the foundation for long-term success.”
Currently, Indiana’s CCDF assists about 43,000 children statewide with eligibility based on household income and employment status. The expanded enrollment will prioritize siblings of current voucher holders as well as infants and young children between three and five years old. There will also be exemptions created for foster and kinship families’ children, those with special needs or experiencing homelessness, children of childcare workers, and students at Ivy Tech.
Judy also supported House Enrolled Act 1177 this session to broaden Indiana’s employer childcare tax credit program in order to encourage more employers to provide childcare options for their employees.
Recent state data shows that regulated childcare facility capacity has grown over the past year and now stands at about 174,400 children.
