Ohio lawmakers on Monday moved a new child‑care perk a step closer to reality, advancing a bill that would give child‑care workers state‑paid daycare for their own children through a two‑year pilot program. Sponsors say the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) program is designed to cut turnover, pull more caregivers into the field, and open up more spots for other families. The House Children and Human Services Committee in Columbus approved the measure and sent it to the full House.
House Bill 484 would require the Department of Children and Youth to run the WIN pilot during fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and appropriates $20 million for FY 2026, according to an analysis by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The analysis says the bill would allow child‑care staff members to qualify for Publicly Funded Child Care regardless of family income, as long as they work at least 20 hours per week. It specifically excludes employees of approved child‑day camps and facility owners or administrators. Any funds left over after FY 2026 would be reappropriated for FY 2027, the analysis notes.
One sponsor, Rep. Gary Click, told the committee the proposal is meant as a supply‑side fix. He argued that “for every childcare worker who joins the field, at least five new childcare slots become available,” according to testimony filed with the legislature. Click and his co‑sponsors framed the WIN pilot as modeled on programs in neighboring states and as a way to boost the workforce and, in turn, state revenues, themes that ran through proponent testimony.
Supporters Point to Data and Precedent
Advocates said Kentucky’s similar program and existing research suggest that targeted benefits for workers can quickly increase capacity and retention. In committee testimony, Policy Matters Ohio estimated that a $20 million initiative could protect or create as many as 20,000 child‑care slots statewide by attracting or keeping roughly 1,500 providers in the sector.
Committee Reaction and the Remaining Questions
Committee records show extensive proponent testimony from advocacy groups, business chambers, and regional early‑childhood organizations, and no registered organizational opposition on file in the hearing record, according to the Ohio Senate. Supporters cautioned that a short, targeted pilot, while helpful, is not a replacement for broader changes to wages, licensing, and overall funding levels that many advocates say are necessary to stabilize child care over the long term.
Next Steps and Timing
The bill now heads to the full House. If it passes there, it would then move to the state Senate, where the calendar could slow things down, as local coverage has noted the upper chamber may be in recess for the summer and not return until the fall. Within six months after the pilot concludes, the Department of Children and Youth must submit a report on the program’s findings to the governor and the General Assembly, according to the Legislative Service Commission analysis.
