STATEHOUSE (April 20, 2026) – State Reps. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) and Tony Isa (R-Angola) joined other state leaders in supporting a proposal to invest an additional $200 million to expand access to child care for low-income families.
The State Budget Committee approved the proposal at its meeting Thursday 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 Smaltz and Isa supported, 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.
"Expanding access to child care is one of the most practical ways we can support working families and strengthen Indiana's economy," Smaltz said. "By directing additional resources to this program, we're helping more Hoosier parents stay in the workforce while ensuring their children are in safe, supportive environments where they can learn and grow."
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. A set of exemptions will be created for children of foster and kinship families, children with special needs, homeless children, children of child care workers and children of Ivy Tech students.
"Investing in child care is an investment in both our Hoosier families and our future workforce," Isa said. "This funding will help more parents striving to build stable careers while giving their children access to quality early learning opportunities that set them up for long-term success."
Both Smaltz and Isa supported House Enrolled Act 1177 this session to expand the state's employer child care tax credit, encouraging more employers to offer child care options to employees.
According to the most recent state data, capacity at regulated child care facilities has increased over the past year, with capacity currently at 174,400 children.
Click here to learn more about state child care resources.
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State Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) represents House District 52,
which includes all of DeKalb County, and portions of Noble and Steuben counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Tony Isa (R-Angola) represents House District 51,
which includes all of LaGrange County and a portion of Steuben County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
