By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields is trying, once again, to pass a package of tax incentives to expand child care in Missouri.
Shields, a Republican, has introduced the same measure that has failed to cross the finish line the last two legislative sessions.
“We had a hearing on the child care bill that I have filed for the last three years and it was overwhelmingly attended with all people that were very supportive,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, I’d like to see us address child care.”
Shields proposes three tax incentives to increase the availability of child care and make it more affordable.
Shields says this is an economic development issue.
“And our businesses tell us, in the 60% range, that they have trouble recruiting employees because of the lack of child care and retaining employees because of the lack of child care,” Shields says.
Though Shields has received overwhelming support in the Missouri House the past two sessions, her bill has never gotten anywhere in the Senate. Senate Republican in-fighting doomed multiple bills last year, with filibusters draining the time needed to pass legislation.
Shields believes this legislative session will be different.
“Currently, right now, we are very early in session,” Shields says. “We’re only four weeks in, but there is definitely a different vibe from the other side of the building; all very positive.”
Veteran state Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Republican from Springfield, carries the bill in the Senate this year.
Shields says her approach encourages businesses to engage in the development of child care.
“When they engage, then the government will engage and it will be child care that is built by communities and by businesses so that it matches the needs of the child care that that community needs. It’s not going to be government-run child care.”
Shields says momentum seems to be on her side.
“The support from across all sectors was very humbling on how many people really support this,” Shields says. “So I think we’ll move forward with it as it is written.”
The package contains the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which would provide a 75% tax credit to those investing in child care. The Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act would allow a business to claim a 30% tax credit to offset the cost of child care for employees. The Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act would allow a provider to claim a 30% for capital expenditures or employee pay raises.
Each tax credit is capped at $20 million for a total of $60 million.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
