{"id":9085,"date":"2026-04-02T15:31:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westplexnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/02\/missouri-house-once-again-sends-child-care-tax-credit-package-to-the-senate\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T15:31:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:31:47","slug":"missouri-house-once-again-sends-child-care-tax-credit-package-to-the-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westplexnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/02\/missouri-house-once-again-sends-child-care-tax-credit-package-to-the-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Missouri House once again sends child care tax credit package to the Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, presents on her child care tax credit legislation in January 2024 (Tim Bommel\/Missouri House Communications).<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Missouri House on Thursday voted to advance a package of tax credits designed to boost access to affordable child care and stabilize the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>bill<\/span><\/a>, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, passed with 50 Republicans and all Democrats in support.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the fourth year the chamber has sent the legislation to the Senate, where it has foundered. <\/span>Blocked<\/span><\/a> in 2023 and 2024 by members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, it hit roadblocks from <\/span>a handful of GOP senators<\/span><\/a> in 2025 who argued it could penalize stay-at-home parents.<\/span><\/p>\n

House Republicans this week said they were willing to swallow their distaste for tax credits to advance the bill, pointing to rising costs and the increasing necessity for two parents to work to pay their household bills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Republican state Rep. Jim Murphy of St. Louis County said that he \u201c[has] always hated tax credits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019re appropriations in reverse,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2026Our society deserves kids who grow up in a family that isn\u2019t struggling every day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The bill\u2019s advancement follows the failure of an attempt to restore $51.5 million to the fiscal year 2027 budget for the state\u2019s <\/span>child care subsidy program<\/span><\/a>, which puts state and federal funding toward the cost of day care for low-income and foster families.<\/span><\/p>\n

Republicans\u2019 support for Shields\u2019 bill raised questions from some Democrats, who asked why their colleagues opposed the budget amendment but backed the tax credits, which are projected to cost $69.7 million annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

Democratic state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins of St. Louis reminded her House colleagues that they \u201chad an opportunity to care about children last week when we voted on our budget.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t care about it last week,\u201d Collins said. \u201cNow we care about it this week. What is the message that we\u2019re really sending children and their families?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The failed budget amendment, proposed by state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, would have used interest generated by funds for highway improvements to fund the subsidy program at the level recommended by Gov. Mike Kehoe.<\/span><\/p>\n

That amendment was defeated 78-60, with 13 Republicans voting in support, after House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton of Seneca said Fogle\u2019s proposal would \u201cjeopardize\u201d his pursuit of a balanced, sustainable budget.<\/span><\/p>\n

During debate on Shields\u2019 bill, Fogle pressed Murphy to explain why he opposed her amendment but supports the tax credit package, which is expected to cost the state over $18 million more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s not coming from general revenue,\u201d Murphy said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a reduction of general revenue,\u201d Fogle said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just have frustrations that that investment for this body was too much somehow,\u201d Fogle said, \u201cand then we now have a fiscal note before us that is significantly higher, and you\u2019re not concerned with that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shields\u2019 <\/span>bill<\/span><\/a> would establish three tax credits:<\/span><\/p>\n