We all want our children to thrive, and that means making choices from day one about how we can best help them grow. Newborns need diapers, nutrition, doctor’s appointments, and a safe home. But all of these are expenses that add up for families in the first year of life. Hoosiers across the state agree: cost should not be a barrier to thriving Hoosier children. We all benefit when we invest in our next generation of entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, small business owners, nurses, child care providers, and farmers during their first year of life.

SB 497: Tax Credit for Newborn Children aims to do just that by providing a $500 refundable tax credit for households earning up to 720% of the Federal Poverty Level (that’s $220,000 for a family of four). While the bill passed unanimously out of committee and got unanimous support in the full Senate, it didn't get a hearing in the House- so now in the final weeks of session, we need legislators to include this important policy in the budget if we want to see this become a reality. Please join the Institute in urging your state legislators to invest in our youngest Hoosiers by putting a Newborn Tax Credit in our state budget.