STATEHOUSE (April 16, 2025) – State Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville) joined other state leaders in supporting the Indiana governor's proposal to invest an additional $200 million in the state's free and reduced-cost child care voucher program.
Today the State Budget Committee will review the proposal to allocate additional funding for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program. During the 2026 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 4, which O'Brien co-sponsored, allowing the state to augment funds from the Financial Responsibility and Opportunity Growth (FROG) Fund for the CCDF program. This funding could help the state resume enrollment for CCDF vouchers by an estimated 14,000 children.
"This moment underscores the critical importance of Senate Enrolled Act 4," O'Brien said. "By unlocking these resources, we're addressing immediate gaps and ensuring families and child care providers can plan ahead with greater certainty."
Indiana's CCDF is a federally supported program that currently assists about 43,000 children statewide, with eligibility based on household income and employment criteria. Additional enrollment would prioritize siblings of current voucher holders, infants and children between 3-5 years old. Exemptions would be created for children in foster and kinship families and those with special needs.
To further reduce child care costs, encourage more providers and support working families, this year the General Assembly also passed House Enrolled Act 1177 to expand the state's employer child care tax credit, helping more employers offer child care options to employees.
Click here to learn more about state child care resources.
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State Rep. Tim O'Brien (R-Evansville) represents House District 78,
which includes portions of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
