Senator Mike Bernskoetter

6th Senatorial District

For Immediate Release: 

July 26, 2024

Capitol Building, Room 416

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Contact Kenny Ross: 

 573-751-2076

Breaking Down Amendment 1

With the August primary election approaching, I want to take the next couple of columns to go through the different constitutional amendments that have been put on the August ballot. While voters may only vote for nominees on the party ballot they requested, all Missourians, regardless of party, are afforded the ability to vote on any and all proposed amendments to our state constitution.

Amendment 1, previously known as Senate Joint Resolution 26, is the first constitutional amendment voters will see on the August ballot. If approved by the voters of this state, it would allow the General Assembly to provide a property tax exemption to child care providers. I am in favor of this amendment and voted to send it to the ballot. I am hopeful the voters of this state will join me in the passage of this amendment so the General Assembly can exempt childcare facilities from property tax.

Right now our state is facing a child care crisis; this is especially acute in our rural areas. We as a state want people working, and I want Missourians who work to have a good paying job, but one impediment to this is the inability of many families to find child care during the day for their young children. Some parents are lucky enough to live near family that can help take care of their children, but many are not as fortunate. Anyone who has tried to get a child into a day care facility knows the frustration and stress of being wait-listed for an open spot and hoping it is a good fit for their child.

Part of the problem with the child care industry is it operates on very close margins. These places provide care for our children, and, by necessity, often try to keep prices as affordable as possible. For many of these small businesses, any profit they generate goes directly to the care of our children, or to make space for more children to receive care. Therefore, if we can eliminate the property taxes these facilities face, their margins should improve, which we hope will lead to them caring for more children.

This in turn will help more Missourians strike the balance of working while also providing care for their children before they reach school age. While eliminating property taxes for child care facilities is not a silver bullet that will magically solve the child care crisis in Missouri, I believe it will help. Right now, we should be doing all we can to provide avenues for parents who work so their children can receive quality care. Amendment 1 is a strong step forward to help the child care crisis in Missouri, and I hope you all will join me in voting yes on it.

Please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.