Missouri is one step closer to adding a tool that is designed to boost access to affordable and high-quality childcare options around the state.

The state House of Representatives has given preliminary approval to a plan that would provide tax breaks to childcare providers, donors to daycares, and businesses who help to cover the childcare costs of their employees.

Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, is sponsoring the package.

“Our families are limiting the size of their families because childcare is so expensive,” Shields said during debate on Tuesday. “Right now, infant care costs more than your freshman year at the university.”

House Bill 269 would add a tax credit allowing those who donate to childcare providers to receive a credit equal to 75% of their donation and must not exceed $200,000 in annual tax credits.

For employers pitching in to help their workers with childcare costs, they can claim tax credits equal to 30% of qualifying expenses.

The third tax credit is intended to help childcare providers expand or upgrade their workplace. They can claim a tax credit in an amount equal to their withholding tax and can claim a tax credit in an amount up to 30% of their capital expenses, up to $200,000 annually per provider.

The tax credits are capped at $20 million each.

“Child care is building infrastructure so that we can tell those companies that want to come to our state, ‘We have the roads. We have the way for you to get your supplies to your business. We have the way to get your finished product to market. We’re going to have the utilities, and we’re absolutely going to have that last thing you need, which is a workforce, because we will have reliable, quality, safe, affordable care,’” said Shields.

Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, R-St. Charles, said he cannot support the bill enough.

“My city of St. Charles, one of the leading populations of homeless are single moms. My city did a study on this. These moms are spending all of their money on food and childcare, leaving nothing left for shelter,” he said.

However, Ozark Republican Jamie Gragg is not a fan of the plan.

“There is no reason that the government should be in competition with private industry,” he said. “By what we’re doing here, we are allowing that to happen. In fact, we are growing that.”

Shields disagreed with Gragg.

“This is not childcare created by the government, funded by the government. These are local childcare providers, your home-based providers that are keeping a small number of children at home. We qualify your group homes that keep 20 children, or your center-based facilities,” said Shields.

Gragg said there are other ways to help families find childcare, but he did not elaborate on those ways.

The bill requires one more House vote of approval to send it to the Senate for more debate. The next vote is expected this week.