Utah child care advocates are relieved child care is finally a topic of more serious policy discussion on the Hill but they are also voicing concerns about safety-related changes being proposed.

House Bill 153 is headed to the governor's desk. It would provide a $2.3 million tax break for some Utah parents but it also would increase the maximum number of children an unlicensed day care center can take, from six to eight, as of May 1.

Anna Thomas with Voices for Utah Children said the bill may contain some 'wins' in terms of tax credits but health and safety are being compromised when child care providers aren't licensed.

"There do remain significant health and safety concerns," Thomas emphasized. "That is a lot of children to have in one home with one person who may have CPR and first-aid training, who may know that babies are supposed to sleep on their backs and not on their stomach. Hopefully they know."

Thomas acknowledged for many Utah families, unlicensed, home-based child care may be the only type they can afford but fears children will pay the price for the lack of oversight. She contended the bill does nothing to effectively address the high cost of child care in Utah, and thinks state dollars should help in the effort to moderate it.

Thomas noted there are some guardrails in place for residential child care, such as mandatory background checks for unlicensed providers, and a limit of two children under age three as part of the maximum total. While some Utah households are able to afford to have a parent stay home to provide care, Thomas stressed for most, it has become a luxury.

"Nobody should feel ashamed about their child care situation," Thomas asserted. "A lot of people do use unlicensed care, because that is all that is nearby, and that is all that is all they can afford. Moving forward, I would love it if parents realize that is a system problem, that is not a parent problem."

Thomas added research across the country shows loosening standards do nothing to improve the cost or availability of child care.


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Ohio's child care system is under strain and a new national report highlighted how Medicaid helps support the workforce behind early childhood care, especially in rural communities.

Medicaid provides critical coverage for child care providers, many of whom are low-paid and often go without employer-based insurance.

Brittany Boulton, vice president of the policy and advocacy organization Groundwork Ohio, said it is especially vital for rural families.

"Cuts to Medicaid would make these problems far worse and leave thousands of Ohioans and rural families without access to coverage and care," Boulton pointed out.

A report by the Georgetown University Center on Children and Family Studies said 30% of children in rural Ohio rely on Medicaid for health coverage, placing the state among the top 10 nationally for rural child enrollment.

National experts warned access to health care is essential not only for children but also for those who care for them.

Daniel Hains, chief policy and professional advancement officer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, said there is a clear link between health coverage and workforce stability. He noted about 16% of early educators lack insurance and those who do have coverage are more likely to stay in the field.

"We need more highly qualified, well-supported, well compensated early childhood educators, with 25+ percent of early childhood educators relying on Medicaid for their own health insurance," Hains noted. "With the critical supports the program provides for their education and for the children and families they serve."

Ohio's child care sector has lost nearly 6,000 workers since the pandemic began and Groundwork Ohio said access to Medicaid helps retain educators in a field facing critical staffing shortages.

A refundable child tax credit aimed at helping families with young children was proposed in Gov. DeWine's budget but was stripped out by the Ohio House.

Advocates said it is not too late for lawmakers to restore it and offer families some financial relief.

Lynanne Gutierrez, president and CEO of the advocacy group Groundwork Ohio, said the funding is critical.

"This is a really strong policy that acknowledges the needs of families," Gutierrez explained. "It won't solve everything but it is an almost billion dollar investment. So his largest, single largest investment in young children and families that has been proposed in his tenure."

If passed, the child tax credit would be Ohio's largest direct state investment in young children to date, providing up to $1,000 per child under age seven, at a time when more than eight in 10 Ohio parents said inflation is forcing them to cut back on groceries.

Opponents argued the state cannot afford it but polling by Public Opinion Strategies showed nearly five of six Ohio voters support a state child tax credit, including majorities across party lines, with more than four of five Republicans, nearly eight in 10 independents, and almost 95% of Democrats. Support grew even higher when respondents learned it had been supported by both Presidents Biden and Trump.

Guillermo Bervejillo, research manager for the Children's Defense Fund of Ohio, called it a bipartisan policy.

"Nearly 20% of children in Ohio are living in poverty currently," Bervejillo pointed out. "That's 470,000 kids. A refundable child tax credit would have directly put money into the hands of those most in need and who are taking care of children."

Supporters said the Senate now has a chance to restore it in the final budget version, due by July 1. They are encouraging families to contact legislators, write letters or attend a rally June 17 at the Statehouse in support of the credit.

The lack of quality child care for infants and toddlers costs Colorado nearly $3 billion each year in lost earnings, productivity and revenue but an initiative in Mesa County shows what is possible when local governments, businesses and civic groups team up.

Keller Anne Ruble, client success manager for the software firm BridgeCare, said officials saw huge demand for child care in the town of Clifton, but no providers. So they built a new facility that provides child care and also trains new caregivers.

"So that they can meet the needs of working families and invest in their early care workforce pipeline," Ruble explained. "And because of that investment, they now have 270 seats at this child care center, and they've completely eliminated their child care desert."

Budgetary constraints imposed by Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights make it much harder for the state to invest tax revenues in initiatives such as the one in Clifton. The state also recently froze enrollment in the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program. Over the past 15 years, Colorado's economic growth has dropped from fifth in the nation to 41st, according to the 2025 Colorado University Leeds School of Business report.

Half of Colorado parents said they have quit jobs, worked fewer hours and taken unpaid time off. In 2023, more than 10,000 moms left the workforce, all because of a lack of child care.

Ruble emphasized when the cost of child care is too high, many parents just cannot afford to go to work.

"Families across the country are spending up to 60% of their income on child care," Ruble pointed out. "That's equivalent to a second mortgage or a second rent payment."

Children younger than age 3 are experiencing one of the most crucial periods of brain development and Ruble stressed investing in quality care is important for their long-term health.

"When young children have high-quality, enriching early experiences with trusted caregivers, it sets them on a strong foundation for growing, flourishing into thriving adults that contribute to our workforce and our society," Ruble asserted.


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