Reps. Click, Odioso Provide Sponsor Testimony on WIN Act

State Representatives Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp.) recently provided sponsor testimony to the House Children and Human Services Committee in support of HB 484, the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care Pilot Program. HB 484 seeks to increase the number of childcare workers, reduce childcare costs, and increase Ohio's population-critical components of a vibrant economy.

Sponsored by Reps. Click and Odioso, House Bill 484 (a companion bill to SB 177 Blessing-Timken) requires the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) to establish the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care pilot program, which would provide publicly funded childcare (PFCC) to individuals employed as childcare staff members regardless of family income. This includes employees of childcare centers, type A family childcare homes, and licensed type B family childcare homes who are primarily responsible for the care and supervision of children.

According to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Blueprint for Ohio's Economic Future, "Nearly 60% of Ohio's nonworking or part-time working moms with children under age 5 said they would go back to work or work more hours if they had access to quality childcare at a reasonable cost." Additionally, in 2025, the U.S. Chamber Foundation study in Ohio called "Untapped Potential" found that 33% of parents in Ohio who experienced disruptions to their employment in the past year reported leaving the workforce as a direct result of childcare issues. The benefits of growing Ohio's population include a larger labor pool to meet industry demands, increased consumer spending, and greater tax revenues that can be invested in public services and infrastructure.

"The Ohio Chamber of Commerce estimates that childcare shortages cost our state's economy approximately $5.48 billion each year in lost productivity. That number reflects parents who want to work but can't find or afford reliable care," said Rep. Click. "By connecting the dots between workforce development, family support, and economic growth, this legislation directly tackles one of Ohio's most pressing challenges."

Rep. Odioso testified that his "enthusiasm for HB 484 is based on its dynamic childcare supply-side multiplier effect, which provides for the childcare workforce member's own childcare needs."

Rep. Odioso then provided an example; "If a preschool childcare worker is allowed to have 12 kids in her classroom, imagine if we had 1000 new preschool childcare workers using this program. We could potentially open 12,000 spots needed for other families who want to put their kids in childcare. That's 12,000 new employees, entrepreneurs potentially joining the workforce."

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Right to Life have both issued their early support for HB 484.

HB 484 is slated to receive proponent testimony before the House Children and Human Services Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, October 28th.