State Budget Update (MAY): How Ohio’s Budget Impacts Children

As Ohio's budget for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, House Bill 33 (HB33), makes its way through the state legislature, there are several developments for parents, child care professionals, and other stakeholders to be aware of. One of the main issues still at stake is state funding for child care, which is vital for the healthy development of Ohio's youngest learners.?

At the end of April, the Ohio House of Representatives voted the budget bill out, with some key differences from the Executive Budget proposed by Governor Mike DeWine earlier this year. In some ways, this is the midpoint of the budget-making process. Now, the budget bill will work its way through the Senate, which is expected to vote on the budget in mid-June. The final quarter of the budget will be the negotiations among leaders from the Executive, the House, and the Senate in Conference Committee.?

As passed by the House, the budget bill:?

• Increases the income level for eligibility for Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) from 142% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 160% FPL for initial eligibility and 300% for continued eligibility. This will help thousands more families access affordable child care and reduce the burden of child care costs on low-income households.?
• Creates the Department of Children and Youth, a new department that would combine services from the Department of Jobs and Family Services, the Department of Education, and other state entities to focus solely on children’s needs, including child care. This streamlined approach could help ensure that children receive the support they need to succeed in school and beyond.?
• Eliminates $150 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to expand infant/toddler capacity and recruit and support the critical care workforce with access to child care. ?
• Cuts Help Me Grow, an evidence-based home visiting program, by $18 million.?
• Reduces funding for Early Childhood Mental Health consultation services by $10 million.?

There were important new changes that could affect the level of support for this critical area of Ohio's education and workforce development systems. The House-passed version of HB33 also:?

• Adds $30 million for child care infrastructure grants that will help create safe and developmentally appropriate child care spaces in Appalachia and areas with high infant mortality rates.?
• Adds another $30 million to be set aside for Early Childhood Education preschool programs. These investments could provide more 3- and 4-year-old children with access to high-quality early learning opportunities, including those offered in child care settings.?

In addition to these changes, several other amendments impacting early learning were included in the House. For instance, the Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) program will receive $1.1 million each fiscal year to support Ohio's youngest learners. Some programs in the maternal and young child health space saw cuts in the House Omnibus Bill compared to the Executive As-Introduced version. Despite these cuts, several positive additions or maintained provisions could still benefit maternal and child health in Ohio.?

With HB33 now moving through the Ohio Senate, it's crucial for parents, child care professionals, and other stakeholders to advocate for the support that Ohio's children need to thrive.

While we remain optimistic about the outcome of the budget, everyone must remain vigilant about budget provisions affecting our youngest learners, their working families, and the child care programs they rely on. Follow Action for Children and look for advocacy alerts throughout this process. With the right investments, we can ensure that Ohio's youngest learners receive the care and support they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Author: Shea McHugh, Policy Intern at Action for Children

Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.

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