JOINT RELEASE: Polis Signs Bill to Save Families Money on Child Care

VAIL, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed HB22-1006 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Kevin Van Winkle and Senators Kerry Donovan and Jim Smallwood, will reduce child care centers’ costs by reducing their property taxes.

“Cutting taxes for child care centers just makes sense, and I am so glad my bill to do just that has been signed into law,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “Child care is one of the largest costs young families are facing, and finding child care can be extremely challenging or impossible, particularly in rural Colorado. That’s why I introduced this bill. With these savings, we expect child care centers across the state to be able to lower prices, hire more employees, and create more child care openings for families. Further, it will be a powerful financial incentive for new child care centers to open their doors.”

“With pandemic-induced inflation hitting families hard, Democrats are laser focused on making Colorado a more affordable place to live,” said Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail. “This new law will give child care providers a much-needed break, and help address our workforce shortage by allowing them to open up new facilities and free up parents to return to work.”

HB22-1006 will make child care more affordable by incentivizing additional property owners to lease space to nonprofit child care centers through a property tax exemption. The legislation will boost the number of available rental spaces for non-profit child care centers that often serve children, families, rural communities, and communities furthest from opportunity. Right now, infant child care costs nearly 10% more than the average rent in Colorado. Increasing the availability of affordable, accessible child care providers gives hardworking families more options for quality care while saving Coloradans money on child care.