State Representatives Erika White and Ashley Bryant-Bailey introduced legislation on Apr. 13 to offer publicly funded childcare benefits to employees in the childcare sector who work at least 20 hours per week. House Bill 768 would allow county Jobs and Family Services offices to exclude family income when determining eligibility for these benefits.
The proposed measure aims to address financial challenges faced by childcare workers and improve access to quality care across Ohio. By supporting staff members, the bill seeks to stabilize the workforce that enables many families to participate in the labor market.
“Everyday Ohioans are being priced out of groceries, rent, homeownership, and other necessities. This commonsense legislation provides support for one of our most essential workforces. Ohio childcare workers’ median wage is only $13.44 per hour, that’s less than $28,000 annually. If we don’t support these workers, we can’t give Ohioans the high-quality childcare they need,” said White.
Bryant-Bailey said, “Childcare workers make it possible for parents to go to work and provide for their families, yet too many of them cannot afford care for their own children. Monthly childcare costs in Cincinnati now exceed double the average rent, with families paying over $2,500 a month for infant care alone. The least we can do is give some relief to the very people tasked with providing quality care for our children.” According to White and Bryant-Bailey’s announcement, helping staff afford care could strengthen recruitment and retention efforts while stabilizing providers throughout Ohio.
The official website states that the Ohio House of Representatives promotes cultural and social vitality by enabling citizen representation and advancing policies that support families statewide. The chamber maintains its proceedings at the historic Statehouse in Columbus—completed in 1861—and comprises 99 members elected from as many legislative districts statewide according to its official website. The Speaker leads by directing agendas and assigning committee roles while representatives create legislative measures addressing both district requirements and broader state priorities.
The lower chamber began operations in 1803 as part of ongoing efforts toward governance excellence without session limits or restrictions on addressing constituent emergencies according to its official website.
House Bill 768 awaits its first hearing before the House Children and Human Services Committee.
