Wisconsin Governor Evers Vetoes Child Care Tax Credit Bill

Evers says the legislation is too broad and would be too costly to implement without additional funding.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:19pm

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would have created a tax credit for child care expenses, stating that the legislation was too broad and would be too expensive to implement without additional funding. In a memo, Evers said the bill failed to address pressing challenges for families, providers, and the state, and that he objected to the legislature making "drastic and vague expansions to tax incentive programs without providing the necessary funding for proper implementation and the clarity necessary to prevent fraud, waste and abuse."

Why it matters

The proposed child care tax credit was intended to provide financial relief to families struggling with the high costs of child care. However, Evers' veto suggests concerns about the bill's scope and potential implementation challenges, highlighting the ongoing debate around how best to support working families and child care providers in Wisconsin.

The details

The vetoed bill would have created a new tax credit for child care expenses. Evers said in his memo that the legislation was too broad and would be too costly to implement without additional funding from the legislature. He expressed concerns about the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse if the program was not properly funded and structured.

  • On March 13, 2026, Governor Tony Evers vetoed the child care tax credit bill.

The players

Tony Evers

The Governor of Wisconsin who vetoed the child care tax credit bill.

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What they’re saying

“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the Legislature making drastic and vague expansions to tax incentive programs without providing the necessary funding for proper implementation and the clarity necessary to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.”

— Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin (Green Bay Press Gazette)

What’s next

The Wisconsin legislature may attempt to override Evers' veto or introduce a revised child care tax credit bill in the future.

The takeaway

Governor Evers' veto of the child care tax credit bill highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing support for working families with responsible fiscal management and program implementation. This decision underscores the need for policymakers to carefully consider the scope and funding requirements of new tax incentive programs.