State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, reintroduced a bill to provide tax credits for families with children.

The Thriving Families Tax Credit bill would provide families an annual benefit of up to $1,000 per child for newborns to the age of five and $500 per child for those between six and 17 years old. Families earning less than $65,000 a year would qualify for the full benefit amount with lesser benefits for families earning between $65,000 and $85,000 annually.

“Ohio families are asking for help and the Thriving Families Tax Credit sends a strong message that we are listening,” McNally said. “If we really want Ohio to be the best place in the country to raise a family, then we need to start putting families first.”

McNally introduced the bill on Oct. 3, 2023, and it was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee seven days later. It wasn’t until Nov. 19, 2024, during the final days of the legislative session, that the committee granted McNally a hearing on the bill at which she gave sponsor testimony. It never advanced past that with no one else permitted to testify.

During her testimony, McNally said: “We will only ever have an economy built around meeting basic needs and no need for other spending opportunities if we don’t act urgently to support working families. Whether its shopping at the local business for decorations for my kid’s birthday party or buying a new couch because my kids were wrestling and broke it, got slime stuck to it, you name it at my house, we can’t afford those things that pump money into my community because we’re forced to focus on just food, clothing and shelter.”

The bill likely faces an uphill battle again in the Republican-controlled state Legislature during this session.

McNally is also introducing the Clock Kids Out Act.

The proposal would implement protections for teenagers currently in the workforce and protect them from potentially dangerous jobs, McNally said.