Opinion: Keeping Utah the best place to raise a family

By Rep. Tracy Miller

Guest Opinion, Deseret News
Published Feb. 20, 2026

Utah has long been one of the best places in the country to raise a family, but rising costs are making it harder for young parents to put down roots and have children. Utah’s birth rate has fallen more than 30% in less than 20 years, while families face growing costs for housing, child care, groceries, and other necessities.

House Bill 290 expands Utah’s child tax credit by raising the income threshold so more working families can qualify. The proposal was estimated to benefit more than 18,000 Utahns, with an average tax change of $388 per year.

Rep. Tracy Miller argues that government cannot solve every challenge facing families, but it can reduce financial barriers and let parents decide where their money is needed most, whether for child care, groceries, or allowing a parent to spend more time at home.

Expanding the child tax credit is part of a broader effort to make Utah more affordable for young families and ensure the state remains a place where families can thrive.

Read the full opinion at Deseret News.

Originally published by Deseret News on Feb. 20, 2026. Written by Rep. Tracy Miller.