News Round Up: June 5, 2023

Top Story: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a new state Child Tax Credit (CTC) valued at $1,750 per child as part of the One Minnesota Budget. The tax credit is expected to reduce state child poverty by 33%. The recently enacted legislation also includes a one-time refundable tax credit valued at $260 for single filers and up to $1,300 for families with three children. (Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan)

  • Alabama lawmakers are advancing a one-time tax rebate valued at $150 for single filers and $300 for married couples. Next, the bill will head to Gov. Kay Ivey’s (R) desk. (CBS 42)
  • A new California bill seeks to streamline the tax return process and to help more eligible low-income workers claim state tax credits. The bill would offer free tax preparation services with auto-populated return forms for easy filing. (Bloomberg Tax)
  • Policy Matters Ohio testified before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee in support of House Bill 33 (HB 33), which would introduce the state’s first CTC and include additional provisions focused on improving the “health, education, and wellbeing of children.” (Policy Matters Ohio)
  • The Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) underscores the significance of three social programs – universal school meals, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) – in increasing accessibility to healthy food, improving the well-being of families and children, and reducing stigma around social programs. (World Nation News)
  • An upcoming webinar co-hosted by Spotlight on Poverty & Opportunity and American Policy Ventures will focus on how cash support payments, such as the 2021 expanded CTC, impact child development and family wellbeing. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, June 13 at 11:00am ET. Register here. (Helping Kids and Families Thrive: New Evidence on Cash Supports)
  • Tax Credits for Workers and Families (TCWF) sat down with the Washington State Budget & Policy Center to discuss what went into expanding the state’s EITC, also known as the Working Family Tax Credit. The expanded legislation revises the tax credit’s filing guidelines to address barriers around accessibility for survivors of domestic violence. (Tax Credits for Workers and Families)