Missouri Bill Increasing Income Tax Credits for Contributions to Pregnancy Resource Centers (HB 1132)

HB 1132 would have increased the cumulative amount of tax credits that may be claimed by all the taxpayers contributing to pregnancy resource centers. Currently, taxpayers that make donations to a pregnancy resource center may be eligible for an income tax credit. The amount of tax credits that may be issued in a fiscal year is limited to $2 million. This act raised the cap to $2.5 million, beginning with the 2015 fiscal year.

According to Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri:

PRC’s employ religiosity, misinformation, and unfulfilled promises of assistance to persuade women to continue their pregnancy. The state should not be using tax incentives to fund organizations that lure vulnerable women by misrepresenting their services and fail to deliver medically accurate information. Missouri’s Legislative Research mandated review found: “Oversight was unable to determine if the program generates additional donations or simply gives taxpayers an additional break for donations that they would have made regardless. Therefore, Oversight is unable to determine if the original intent of the legislation (generation of additional donations to local pregnancy resource centers) has been achieved.”

STATUS

Voted “do pass” by Senate Jobs, Economic Development, and Local Government Committee. The bill ultimately failed.

Companion bill to SB 638 which passed the Senate on April 15, 2014.

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