Middlesex United Way joined with other local United Ways from across Connecticut at the State Capitol on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to support calls for a permanent, refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC). The proposal would provide $600 per child for up to three children, to families earning under $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for joint filers.
"A CTC is a proven way to deliver meaningful financial relief, ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive, and strengthen our local economy." - State Rep. Kate Farrar
House Bill 5134 was introduced and sponsored by 77 House Democrats including State Rep. Kate Farrar, who spoke about the need to support working families during the news conference. “It's not that property taxes, rent, or electric bills aren't high, they truly are, but those costs are compounded when you are raising a child.”
Along with lawmakers and local United Way representatives, several parents shared their stories about the high cost of living. Marinda Monfilston, a mother of two from Cromwell, spoke about how a child tax credit would cover important costs like childcare, groceries, car payments, and her mortgage.
"Investing in our children is not a handout, it is an investment in the future of our state." - Marinda Monfilston
Ivy Royster, a mother from Stratford, expressed similar thoughts on the high cost of raising children in Connecticut. "Every month feels like a balancing act," she said at the news conference. "Before I can think about giving my daughter opportunities to grow, I have to make sure the basics are covered."
Royster added that providing nutritious meals for her family has become more difficult as the prices continue to climb. "When you walk into the grocery store, you can feel the difference in your cart. The healthier you eat, the higher the total climbs, and as a parent it is exhausting to constantly calculate whether I can afford nutrition."
“Sometimes relief doesn't have to be huge to be meaningful. Sometimes it just has to be enough to let a parent feel like they can breathe, even for just a moment.” - Ivy Royster
The proposed Child Tax Credit bill also has support from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents over 600 pediatricians in Connecticut. Dr. Emily Hogeland, a Hartford-based pediatrician and mother, spoke about how the high cost of living could jeopardize children's health.
"One study has shown that one in four low-income families has resorted to watering down formula or restricting how much formula they feed their infants due to limited resources," Hogeland shared. "A child tax credit would lessen the need for families to make this devastating choice between supporting their children's health and financial well-being."
“Children may only be twenty percent of our population, but they are one hundred percent of our future. It's time we invest in them.” - Emily Hogeland, MD
Check out the resources below to learn more about the Child Tax Credit Proposal and how it could impact hundreds of thousands of families across Connecticut.
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