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Advocates urge Senate to restore governor’s partially refundable child tax credit in budget
Summary
Early‑childhood and anti‑poverty advocates told the committee that restoring the governor's partially refundable child tax credit would help working families, reduce childhood poverty, and boost long‑term economic outcomes; researchers presented a benefits analysis supporting the proposal.
Two advocacy coalitions and an economic analysis firm urged the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee to restore the governor’s proposed partially refundable child tax credit in Sub House Bill 96.
Why it matters: Witnesses said a child tax credit targeted at low‑ and moderate‑income working families would provide immediate relief for childcare, food and housing, keep parents employed and generate long‑term economic gains by improving children's health, education and future earnings.
Caitlin Feldman, policy director at Groundwork Ohio, said Ohio’s tax system currently places a proportionally higher burden on lower‑income households and that a refundable child tax credit would help level the system. She cited governor DeWine’s proposed design: a partially refundable credit up to $1,000 per child under age 7 for families under a specified income threshold. Feldman said the governor’s proposal would “help 450,000 Ohio families.”
Will Petrick of Rise Together Innovation Institute described the local economic effect of such a credit, citing regional estimates that a child credit would put money into local economies, help parents afford child care and improve employment stability. He urged adopting Health Amendment SC0572 to restore the credit in the budget.
Scioto Analysis presented a benefit‑cost update of a child allowance model and projected net lifetime benefits. The firm estimated the governor’s proposal could produce a positive net present value for the state — reporting their central estimate that benefits could exceed costs by roughly $740 million over the cohort’s lifetime, driven primarily by higher future wages and lower criminal justice and health costs.
Supporters argued the measure would be fiscally responsible, pro‑work and broadly popular; polls cited by witnesses indicated strong cross‑partisan voter support. Opponents were not present in testimony; senators took no immediate votes during the hearing.
Bottom line: Advocates and analysts provided empirical and public‑opinion arguments for including a partially refundable child tax credit in the final budget; the Senate will consider the House and governor proposals during its deliberations.
