SB 147 and SB 2 / Chamber Supports
Advancing the Chamber’s priority on increasing childcare accessibility and affordability this session, we testified in support of Senate Bill 147 in the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee last week. As proposed, the bill would exempt for-profit childcare providers from property taxes (non-profit, school and church-based childcare providers are already exempt) and provide a partial property tax exemption for employers that offer onsite childcare. As a state with fewer than 10 licensed childcare facilities per 100,000 residents, SB 147 is part of a larger policy push to incentivize private-sector investment to boost childcare seat capacity and affordability across Indiana.
The bill, which is expected to return to the Senate Tax Committee for amend-and-vote this week, also includes Chamber-supported language aimed at simplifying and streamlining the state’s childcare licensing requirements while maintaining essential health and safety standards.
In a related move, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed Senate Bill 2 last week with a unanimous 11-0 vote. Senate Bill 2 contains several Chamber-backed provisions that include accelerating efforts to remove regulatory barriers to expanding childcare access, creating greater flexibility for innovative childcare models, and increasing support for childcare workers.
A top priority for the Chamber and the Senate Majority Caucus with broad bipartisan support, SB 2 now moves on for consideration by the full Senate.
