Senate approves child care tax credit, House rejects judges’ other child care bill • West Virginia Watch

“Honestly, I don’t know who worked for it, except maybe a lobbyist,” Del said. Joey Garcia, D-Marion. “We have heard from the local people who run these businesses that they need certain things. I don’t understand [how] Give $5 million to a recruiting agency or an app… How can that money not just go down the drain?”

At Garcia’s suggestion, the House of Representatives voted 47-40 to table the bill indefinitely. The House of Representatives and Senate adjourned the session indefinitely late Tuesday evening, concluding the special session.

Justice said he tried to put $20 million into child care, but that was reduced to $5 million for his pilot program.

“Lobbyists were up there trying to get the cheese. The legislature had enough of it and said we’re done, we’re not going to do that,” he said.

The Senate approved the child and dependent care tax credit on Tuesday, sending the bill to the governor’s desk on the final day of the special session. It would Allow eligible families to claim a credit equal to 50% of the eligible federal child and dependent care credit.

According to the bill, implementation will cost $4.2 million Tax notice.

“The first ever for working families in West Virginia,” Justice said. “It’s a good start. We have to do more.”

Lawmakers and the state Chamber of Commerce urged Justice to add more child care bills to the special session call. During the regular session, bills were introduced that could not be voted on. They included proposals such as helping child care providers pay for daycare and giving businesses a larger tax credit for providing child care.

“We worked hand in hand with leadership and agreed on what had a chance and what didn’t,” Justice said.

Del. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, said she was glad the special session resulted in some relief for families. “We know every little bit helps,” she said.

Young, who has led efforts on child care legislation in the House, continued: “I was disappointed, but not surprised, that the governor did not follow through on his promise to provide $20 million to child care providers. “I look forward to meaningful legislation Work in the regular session. Solving child care requires bringing providers, parents, employers, technology solutions and our state agencies to the table.”