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H.R. 1296
U.S. House•In House Committee
Summary
H.R. 1296, the Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025, was introduced in the House on Feb 13, 2025 by Rep. Herbert Conaway Jr. (D) with 39 co-sponsors. It was referred to Ways And Means, and last saw action on Feb 13, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Record
Text
H.R. 1296 has 39 co-sponsors.
hb1296/introduced-in-house.txt119 HR 1296 IH: Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025U.S. House of Representatives2025-02-13text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1296 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2025 Mr. Conaway (for himself, Mrs. Foushee , Ms. Barragán , Ms. Sánchez , Ms. Pressley , Ms. Chu , Ms. Titus , Ms. Norton , Ms. Ross , Ms. Brownley , Mr. Takano , Mr. Frost , Mr. Casten , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mrs. Ramirez , Ms. Perez , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Carson , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Garcia of California , Mrs. Hayes , Mr. Peters , Ms. Tokuda , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Ms. Bynum , Ms. McDonald Rivet , Ms. Salinas , Mr. Ruiz , Mrs. McIver , and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILLTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a refundable credit for qualified child care startup expenses.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025 .2.Licensed family child care credit(a)In generalSubpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 36B the following new section:36C.Licensed family child care credit(a)In generalIn the case of a qualified taxpayer, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for any taxable year an amount equal to so much of the qualified child care startup expenses of the taxpayer for such taxable year or for the preceding taxable year as do not exceed $5,000.(b)Qualified taxpayerFor purposes of this section, the term qualified taxpayer means, with respect to a taxable year, a taxpayer that operates a qualified family child care provider.(c)Qualified family child care providerFor purposes of this section, the term qualified family child care provider means a family child care provider that, with respect to a taxable year—(1)provides child care services for compensation that, as of the last day of such taxable year, is licensed or registered under State law and satisfies State and local requirements applicable to the child care services it provides,(2)primarily provides child care at the taxpayer’s primary residence, and(3)provided child care services to not less than 2 children (excluding children of such taxpayer) for a significant portion of such taxable year.(d)Qualified child care startup expensesFor purposes of this section, the term qualified child care startup expenses means amounts paid or incurred for any of the following in order to establish and operate a qualified family child care provider:(1)Child care licensing fees.(2)Child care supplies including diapers, food, toys, and learning materials.(3)Liability insurance.(4)Fencing and installation of such fencing.(5)Outdoor playground equipment and installation of such equipment.(6)Furniture necessary to provide child care.(7)Salary of an employee other than the taxpayer.(8)Printer and computers.(9)Professional training required as a condition of State licensure or registration.(10)Remediation or renovation of the taxpayer’s primary residence required as a condition of State licensure or registration.(e)LimitationsNo credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) to any taxpayer to whom a credit was allowed under such subsection in any other taxable year.(f)Denial of double benefitNo credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any expense for which a deduction or credit is allowed under any other provision of this chapter.(g)RegulationsThe Secretary shall issue such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations relating to such information reporting and coordination with state and local licensing or registration entities as the Secretary determines appropriate.(h)SunsetNo credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year beginning after the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this section..(b)Conforming amendmentSection 1324(b)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting 36C, after 36B, .(c)Clerical amendmentThe table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36B the following new item:Sec. 36C. Licensed family child care credit..(d)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Tracker
The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.
- Introduced2025-02-13
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Conference
- To President
- Became Law
CRS Summary
The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.
Introduced in House Feb 13, 2025
hb1296/introduced-in-house.mdShown Here:
Introduced in House (02/13/2025)
Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025
This bill establishes a temporary (for seven years) refundable tax credit for certain expenses incurred to establish and operate a qualified family child care provider. (Conditions and limitations apply.)
Under the bill, a qualified family child care provider is a child care provider that
- provides child care services at the taxpayer's primary residence for at least two children (other than the children of such taxpayer) for a significant portion of the tax year,
- receives compensation for such child care services, and
- is licensed or registered to provide such child care services by the state in which such services are provided.
The bill allows a taxpayer that operates a qualified family child care provider to claim a tax credit of up to $5,000 for
- child care licensing fees;
- child care supplies (e.g., diapers, food, toys, and learning materials);
- liability insurance;
- fencing (including installation costs);
- outdoor playground equipment (including installation costs);
- furniture necessary to provide child care;
- the salary of an employee (other than the taxpayer);
- printers and computers;
- professional training required by the state for licensing or registration; and
- remediation or renovation of a primary residence to meet state licensing or registration requirements.
The tax credit may only be claimed once and may not be claimed for expenses for which another tax deduction or tax credit is allowed.
Finally, the bill requires the Internal Revenue Service to issue guidance on the tax credit, including guidance related to information reporting requirements.
Sponsors
Rep. Herbert Conaway Jr. (D) sponsors H.R. 1296, and 39 members have co-sponsored it, 29 of them from the day it was introduced.

Rep. · D–NJ-3 · Sponsor
Introduced Feb 13, 2025

Rep. · D–DC-0 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–CA-44 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–CA-26 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–OR-5 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–CA-24 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–IN-7 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–IL-6 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–FL-20 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original

Rep. · D–CA-28 · Co-sponsor
Joined Feb 13, 2025 · Original
Committees
H.R. 1296 went before 1 committee: Ways and Means.
Actions
H.R. 1296 has taken 2 actions since Feb 13, 2025.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Feb 13, 2025 | House | Introduced in House | ||
Feb 13, 2025 | House | Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.Ways and Means Committee |
Votes
H.R. 1296 has not gone to a roll call.
Related bills
1 bill is related to H.R. 1296.
Titles
H.R. 1296 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.
- Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025 — Display Title
- Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Introduced
- To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a refundable credit for qualified child care startup expenses. — Official Title as Introduced
Lobbying
1 client hired 1 firm and 4 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 1296 in 4 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.
Filed under Budget/Appropriations, Education, Family issues/Abortion/Adoption, Health Issues, Housing, Immigration, Medicare/Medicaid, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code.
Clients
Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.
| Client | Business | State | Firms | Filings | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | — | District of Columbia | 1 | 4 | — |
Firms
Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.
| Registrant | Clients | Filings | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | 1 | 4 | — |
Lobbyists
Named on the filings that cite the bill.
| Lobbyist | Firms | Clients | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN BLACHOWIAK | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| SAMANTHA CADET | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| YELENA TSILKER | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| ERIKA WILDER | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Filings
The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.
| Client | Registrant | Period | Reported | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | 2026 second_quarter | $119.6K | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | 2025 third_quarter | $64.1K | 3rd Quarter - Report |
| ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | 2025 fourth_quarter | $59.5K | 4th Quarter - Report |
| ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND FAMILIES | 2026 first_quarter | $45.9K | 1st Quarter - Report |
Classification
The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 1296 under Taxation, one of its 31 policy areas.
CRS Subjects
CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 1296’s is Taxation.
hr1296/policy-areas.txtConstitutional authority
The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 1296, as entered in the Congressional Record.
[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. CONAWAY:H.R. 1296.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:The General Welfare Clause found in Article I, Section 8,Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution.[Page H710]
Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com