Catholic Conference of Ohio The official voice of the Catholic Church in Ohio on matters of public policy and government relations.

The Catholic Bishops of Ohio issued a signed statement urging lawmakers to include the child tax credit from the Executive Budget in the final version of the FY 2026-2027 State Operating Budget. The Executive Budget included a refundable tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under the age of seven, but it was removed in the House version. CCO has long advocated for the creation of a refundable child tax credit as “a hallmark of pro-family public policy, as reflected in their broad, bipartisan support at the federal level.”

Click “Read more” for the full statement.

In response to Governor Mike DeWine’s final executive budget, Brian Hickey, executive director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio, released the following statement:

“We commend Governor DeWine’s continued commitment to Ohio’s families and children through the Executive Budget, especially the proposed state child tax credit – a long-sought policy goal of the Catholic Conference for Ohio’s families. This would be a meaningful investment in recognizing Ohio’s families as the primary social institution of society and the foundation of Ohio’s future. We also commend the DeWine administration for identifying ways to use taxation for the common good, including recognizing the ongoing harms and addictive nature of sports gambling. Additionally, we thank Gov. DeWine for his commitment to educational options for Ohio’s families, and we look forward to sharing more about the life-changing difference Ohio’s school choice programs have had for children and parents in the budget deliberation process.”