Voices for Utah Children Articles

  • FAQs on HB 153: Child Care Revisions

    Representative Susan Pulsipher’s HB 153: Child Care Revisions narrowly passed the Utah State Legislature on February 28, 2024, and was signed by the Governor on March 14, 2024. Initially proposed as a child tax credit expansion initiative, HB 153 has...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Voices Opposes Legislative Efforts to Suppress Public Ballot Initiatives

    Our organization recognizes the importance of standing against policies that jeopardize the well-being of Utah’s children. We believe that regular community members have the right and responsibility to influence decisions about policies that affect...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Oppose HB 153: Child Care Revisions - Protect Kids in Care!

    Representative Susan Pulsipher’s HB 153 was initially aimed at providing tax relief for families with young children through an expanded state child tax credit. Originally, the bill aimed to extend the child tax credit eligibility from ages one to...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Child Care for Utah's Future: A Call to Action for Elected Officials

    This open letter was released on January 31, 2024, by Neighborhood House and Voices for Utah Children, two non-profit organizations working together with other community partners to create a better childcare system in Utah for the benefit of all the...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Tax Cuts Hurt Kids

    Why Voices Opposes Proposed Income Tax Cuts Over the past four years, Utah's Legislative Leadership has consistently prioritized tax cuts above the needs of Utah's families. Despite a $400 million tax cut passed last year that benefited the most...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Take Action on EITC Awareness Day 

    January 26th is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day! The EITC is a vital tool in reducing child poverty, and improving the long-term outcomes for children across our state. Some tax policies - like the EITC - promote fairness and equity....

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Abdikadir Eftin
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Our 2024 Legislative Agenda

    At Voices for Utah Children, we always start with this guiding question: "Is it good for all kids?" That remains our north star at the outset of the 2024 legislative session, and is reflected in our top legislative priorities. So, what’s good for all...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • How to Strengthen Utah's Child Tax Credit

    In 2023, Utah introduced its own child tax credit (CTC) marking a positive step forward. However, the credit's limited scope falls short of providing real assistance to families raising young children. As we approach the 2024 legislative session, there...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • The Governor’s 2024 Budget: Hits and Misses for Utah Families

    Governor Cox unveiled his budget last week, and the general direction of the budget is positive. Voices for Utah Children is interested in some specific components of the budget that directly impact Utah children and their families: Public Education...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Tax Policy 101: Tax Refundability

    Tax policy is complicated. Talking about taxes involves jargon, and concepts that can be confusing. For example, what is a 'refundable' tax credit? What exactly does that mean, and how does it help families? We answer these questions here with a quick...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • It’s Official: Access to Licensed Child Care Statewide is Really Bad (and Getting Worse)

    We know that Utah’s child care crisis is bad, and is going to get worse. New data helps illustrate exactly how bad the situation is, in each county across the state. Next week Voices for Utah Children will release a report titled, “Mapping Care for...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • New State CHIP Program: A Win for Utah Children and Families

    Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Voices for Utah Children is proud to have co-hosted the momentous unveiling of the new State CHIP Program during our morning press conference. We are grateful to have worked with Senator Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City) and...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Ciriac Alvarez Valle
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Making Utah Taxes Fair for All Families

    Most of us don't enjoy paying taxes. We do it, though, because pooling our money together through taxes makes it possible for us to have roads, schools, libraries and parks, fire fighters and law enforcement, and so many more public goods that none of...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Taylor Throne
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Empower Utah Families with Better Income Tax Credits

    When it comes to improving the lives of hardworking Utahns, we need policies that help those who are struggling to make ends meet. A refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) could do just that. Let's start by discussing what the earned income tax...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Taylor Thorne
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Higher Child Care Costs and More Stress for Families Coming This Fall

    When the pandemic hit, child care was one of the first sectors in crisis. But action in the form of federal aid and swift state program implementation prevented widespread program closures. The nearly $600 million Utah received in federal child care...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Annie E. Casey Foundation Releases 34th edition of KIDS COUNT® Data Book

    Utah Shines in Child Well-Being Rankings, Yet the Strain of Inaccessible, Unaffordable Child Care Pushes Parents to the Breaking Point Utah made significant strides in overall child well-being, moving up to second place in the country from fourth last...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Laneta Fitisemanu
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • What Happened with Child Care During the 2023 Legislative Session?

    Child care certainly received its fair share of discussion this legislative session, but did anything really happen? The short answer is kinda. Here’s what happened. Funding Requests During the session, Voices for Utah Children teamed up with parents,...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Full Steam Ahead for Full-Day Kindergarten in Utah!

    Congratulations, Utah parents and educators! Together, we did it. Funding for optional full-day kindergarten is now a reality for schools statewide. The Utah Legislature passed HB477, "Full Day Kindergarten Amendments," sponsored by Rep. Robert...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Summary of the Tax Cuts Passed by the 2023 Utah Legislature

    The Legislature finished its 2023 General Session last Friday evening, March 3rd. In the area of tax policy, we've prepared the chart above to summarize the tax cuts passed this year. The tax cuts that will go into effect in the next year add up to...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Matthew Weinstein
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Utah's Proposed Child Tax Credit

    To date, the state legislature’s minimal efforts to address Utah’s complex child care crisis are completely out of proportion to the scope of the problem. None of those efforts have offered much relief for Utah families with young children who are...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog
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