State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) announced on April 16 his support for the Indiana governor’s proposal to invest an additional $200 million in the state’s free and reduced-cost child care voucher program.
The proposed funding will be reviewed by the State Budget Committee and is aimed at strengthening the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program. The General Assembly recently passed Senate Enrolled Act 4, which O’Brien co-sponsored, allowing extra funds from the Financial Responsibility and Opportunity Growth (FROG) Fund to be used for CCDF. This move could enable Indiana to resume enrollment for CCDF vouchers, potentially serving about 14,000 more children.
“This moment underscores the critical importance of Senate Enrolled Act 4,” O’Brien said. “By unlocking these resources, we’re addressing immediate gaps and ensuring families and child care providers can plan ahead with greater certainty.”
Indiana’s CCDF currently assists approximately 43,000 children across the state based on household income and employment status. The proposed expansion would give priority to siblings of current voucher holders as well as infants and children between ages three and five. There are also plans to create exemptions for foster or kinship families along with children who have special needs.
In addition to this measure, House Enrolled Act 1177 was passed this year by the General Assembly to expand Indiana’s employer child care tax credit, making it easier for more employers to provide child care options for their workers.
Observers say these steps could help reduce costs for families while supporting working parents throughout Indiana.
