Senator Mishler: State budget committee approves $200 million to expand child care access in Indiana

The Indiana State Budget Committee has reviewed and approved a provision to transfer an additional $200 million to support child care access across the state, a move championed by legislative leaders to help working families.

The funding will be directed into the Financial Responsibility and Opportunity Growth (FROG) fund and specifically earmarked for Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers. This significant financial injection aims to alleviate the growing demand for accessible and affordable child care for Hoosiers.

State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), who serves as chair of both the State Budget Committee and the Senate Committee on Appropriations, praised the committee's action on Thursday.

"The Senate kickstarted this funding discussion by unanimously passing Senate Enrolled Act 4 during the 2026 legislative session, which allows the state to spend money from the FROG fund on CCDF," Mishler said in a released statement.

The unanimous passage of Senate Enrolled Act 4 earlier this year laid the legislative groundwork for the funding transfer, signaling a strong consensus on the importance of early childhood care infrastructure in Indiana.

Looking ahead, Mishler indicated that child care funding will remain a legislative priority. "I am pleased to see that the Senate's efforts are paying off, and we will continue to work on this program as we begin to prepare for the 2027 budget session," he added.