First Five Nebraska honors Bostar, other senators for child care and early ed tax credits

LINCOLN — State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln received an award Monday from a Nebraska group pressing state lawmakers to adopt policies recognizing the value of quality child care and early education in improving children’s lives.

Leaders of the nonpartisan child advocacy group First Five Nebraska said they chose Bostar because of his work to add parts of his proposed child care tax credit and early ed tax credit into the larger tax package the Legislature approved, Legislative Bill 754.

First Five Director Jason Prokop credited Bostar and other state senators involved in the tax package for leading “from the front on these issues” and “thinking and acting strategically” about investments that make a difference in human development.

The new tax law provides a tax credit for child care costs based on family income. It also provides business tax breaks and donor tax breaks for giving that boosts child care operations and a tax break for child care workerss.

Bostar said senators understand that “some of the most pressing challenges” facing Nebraskans are rooted in child care and early childhood policy needs. He said that he is “proud of the progress we’ve made” but that more must be done.

He said discussions this year during legislative hearings and elsewhere at the Capitol helped create momentum for investments in early childhood development that can improve outcomes in public health, criminal justice, housing and workforce needs.