Childcare Tax Credit package resurrected by Missouri lawmakers on both sides

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) – Missouri lawmakers will enter the 2025 legislative session still trying to solve the state’s struggling childcare market.

A recent study from the University of Missouri found that there are three times the number of children ages 6 and under than available childcare spots in the state. The study also found that 85% of counties don’t have enough options for their families.

Despite getting support from both sides of the aisle, a bill containing three childcare tax credits failed to make it to his desk.

Republican state representative Brenda Shields sponsored a separate version of the tax credit package last session and has already filed it again for 2025.

“We have 61% of our parents who say that they can’t find childcare,” Shields said. “We have over 50% of our businesses who say they can’t recruit them or they leave because of the lack of childcare. And we truly believe that if we could solve a childcare crisis in our state, we could grow our economy by about $1.35 billion.”

One of the bill’s three tax credits would be for employers who contribute to their employee’s childcare costs, another would credit employers for providing in-house child care for employees, and another would credit providers who spend money expanding their facilities.

Shields said this might be the year lawmakers can finish this bill, but it’s not the only fix needed.

“There isn’t $1 that we [can] invest more efficiently than in those early years and with our children,” Shields said.

Independence Democrat Rep. Aaron Crossley also filed a version of the tax credit bill.

Similarly, Republicans and Democrats filed versions of the tax credit package for the 2024 session.

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