Right out of the gate in January, Gov. Kathy Hochul presented several proposals to address child poverty in the state. The most significant idea was an expansion of the Empire State Child Credit. 

In this proposal, the governor eliminates the minimum income requirement for the credit. She also increases the tax credit from $330 to $1,000 per child for children ages 0 to 3, and increases the credit from $330 to $500 for children ages 4 to 16.

The governor’s proposal expires in 2028. 

The Senate and the Assembly took these proposals and tweaked them slightly. 

Like the governor’s proposal, the Senate eliminates the minimum income requirement, but the house phases in the increase to $1,600 per child by 2030. It also expands the credit from age 0 to 17 years old. 

The Assembly proposal is similar. It, too, eliminates the minimum income requirement. But then it increases the Empire State Child Credit for this year from $330 to $1,000 per child for children ages 0 to 3. Then, starting next year, the Assembly proposes to begin phasing in an increase of the credit to $1,600 per child by 2030 and expanding the credit for children from 0 to 17 years old. 

The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy is pushing for an increase in the tax credit to $1,500 for all children as recommended by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. The group is also hoping the credit is indexed to inflation to keep up with ever-growing costs.

According to Kate Breslin, chief executive officer of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, changing the structure and increasing the tax credit amount to $1,500 for all children would help most New York families and would reduce child poverty by about 23%.

Breslin joined Capital Tonight host Susan Arbetter to discuss both the tax credit and the fight over child care funding in this year’s state budget.