Lawmakers and advocates push to fix Oregon's child care shortage
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Lawmakers are considering nearly two dozen bills this legislative session aimed at addressing child care challenges in the state, but they're likely to come up against competing priorities and other budgetary concerns on the path to getting them passed.
Why it matters: Oregon's child care system is struggling under workforce shortages, long waitlists for state-subsidized programs and a lack of day care facilities — problems advocates say will only get worse if not addressed now.
- Marchel Marcos, the political director at Family Forward, said the organization is asking the Legislature for $500 million for the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to make up for "years of underinvestment."
Context: Roughly 10,200 families are on the waitlist for Oregon's employment-related day care program, spokesperson Kate Gonsalves told Axios. It's operated by the DELC and provides child care vouchers for working parents or those pursuing an education.
- Since launching in 2023, the program has helped families make child care more affordable, considering the average annual cost is often more expensive than college tuition. Most eligible families pay only a small co-pay.
Between the lines: Child care workers are among the lowest paid in Oregon, according to the state's own assessment, making an average annual income of $35,000.
- This has led to chronic staff shortages and pockets of child care deserts throughout the state.
The big picture: One proposal, HB 2452, would create a new referral system and grant program to connect parents with providers to create a tailored care plan for their specific needs.
- Meanwhile, another bill would direct funding to child care workforce retention and apprenticeship programs, provide workers with health care benefits and give a yearly $500 recognition bonus.
Plus: State Rep. Pam Marsh (D-Ashland) told Axios she's prioritizing two child care bills related to easing zoning and construction barriers.
- One would expedite the permitting processes for developers looking to build child care facilities and another would ensure those facilities would be allowed in both single- and multi-family neighborhoods.
- "If we could pass them, it would just open the door to more centers," she said.
Yes, but: Both Marcos and Marsh acknowledged that funding may not be as plentiful for child care this session.
- Gov. Tina Kotek indicated in her budget proposal that the state is focused on bolstering homelessness programs, adding more new housing and filling transportation gaps.
- "We will really have to fill the room with families and advocates to uplift this issue as a priority for investment," Marcos said.
What we're watching: Most of the child care-related bills are still in the initial stages of introduction or in committee, so "they have a long ways to go," Marsh said.
- "We know child care is really fundamental to healthy development and essential to making our K-12 system work."