FREE CHILD CARE FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS

When Care Thrives, Ohio Thrives: A Breakthrough for Ohio’s Care Economy

Ohio can’t build a strong economy without a strong child care workforce. House Bill 484 (HB 484) is bold, bipartisan legislation, championed by CEO Project, to provide free child care for childcare workers across the state. This bill was shaped by those who live through the crises every day. It’s a practical, business-forward solution to one of Ohio’s biggest workforce challenges. When the people who care for our children can’t afford care themselves, everyone loses.


Why It Matters

  • The workforce behind the workforce.

    Child care makes all other work possible. Yet 58 percent of providers in 2024 reported staffing shortages that limited available child-care slots. HB 484 helps solve that crisis by covering the cost of care for early-childhood educators’ own children — keeping skilled workers in classrooms and centers open for families statewide.


  • Support for small businesses

    Most child care programs are small, women-owned businesses powering local economies. By easing financial strain on staff, HB 484 helps providers stabilize operations, expand enrollment, and reinvest in their programs and communities.


  • Economic common sense

    The Ohio Chamber of Commerce estimates that the child care shortage costs the state $5.3 billion annually in lost productivity. HB 484 is a smart, targeted investment that strengthens families, grows businesses, and keeps Ohio’s economy moving.

What HB 484 Does

  • Creates the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care pilot program.

  • Provides free child care to childcare staff who meet income or work thresholds.

  • Applies statewide to support licensed centers, Type A/B homes, and family programs.

  • Reduces costly turnover, improving workforce stability and program quality.

  • Expands access for families on waiting lists by reopening classrooms that have been closed due to staffing shortages.

How We Got Here

HB 484 is the result of years of organizing by the CEO Project. Our statewide coalition of providers, parents, and advocates worked with legislators to design a solution that supports both the workforce and the families who rely on it every day.

  • “Helping child care businesses offer affordable care to their own staff is smart business that pays off. Child care owners are the workforce behind the workforce.”

    — Tami Lunan, Organizing Director, CEO Project

  • Offering free child care to child care workers is an investment, not a financial loss. House Bill 484 allows child care businesses to refuel our economy.”

    — Tashianna Kwakye, Child Care Provider in Dayton, Columbus, and Westerville]

Take Action

Ohio lawmakers need to hear from you. Tell them that supporting HB 484 means supporting Ohio’s families, small businesses, and economic future.



Email your lawmakers today: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-senator-support-free-child-care-for-childcare-workers/

Join the CEO Project https://ceoprojectohio.org/sign-up