Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones pushes to aid parents through tax credits

Georgia’s Republican lieutenant governor is renewing a push to expand childcare tax credits.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a Senate ally has introduced a bill to create a state income tax credit of up to $250 for every child under age 7, expand an existing tax credit for child care to give parents up to $300 more per child, and let employers claim a larger credit for investing in an on-site child care center.

Jones has made those items part of his agenda as he is considering a run for governor in 2026. Much of what Jones has done since taking office in 2023 has been to cater to a Trump-aligned conservative electorate in a potential Republican primary. But he’s also made some moves, often centered on protecting or aiding children, to build a record appealing to the broader electorate that would vote in a general election in politically competitive Georgia.