Overview

• House Bill 342, the Invest in Marriage Act, would grant a nonrefundable $1,000 state tax credit per employee to private employers that pay at least a $1,000 bonus when a worker marries, capped at $50,000 a year.
• To qualify, employers must pay the bonus to any worker who submits a marriage license or record, and unused credits could be carried forward for up to five years.
• Government and nonprofit employers would be ineligible for the credit, though they could still offer the bonus to employees.
• The Ohio Legislative Service Commission projects state revenue reductions between $13.8 million and $34.4 million and local losses between $245,000 and $613,000, reflecting uncertain uptake.
• Sponsor Rep. Josh Williams frames the measure as part of a broader Family First agenda to promote marriage and parenthood, while some reporting notes concerns raised about the effectiveness and equity of tax-based marriage incentives.