Residents of Missouri who donate to pregnancy resource centers that do not offer abortions could see significant reductions in their state tax bill if a new GOP bill is passed into law. Senator Jill Carter, a Republican, is sponsoring SB 681, which proposes a 100% tax credit for such donations starting in 2026, up from the current 70% credit for the years 2021 to 2025. This means that for every dollar donated, one dollar would be deducted from the taxpayer’s annual income tax obligation.
Senator Carter expressed that Republican-led states are aiming to return more tax dollars to their communities. The bill aims to incentivize individuals to invest in women in their community and support causes that they value without imposing additional burden on taxpayers. Taxpayers under this bill can claim up to $50,000 in tax credits annually for donations of at least $100, with any unused credits rolling over to the following year. The bill also eliminates the previous cap on total credits that could be claimed for fiscal years up to 2021.
The bill has passed the tax reform committee in the state House and is seen as a way for people to support their beliefs by personally investing in causes they care about. Supporters of the bill, such as Alissa Gross, CEO of Resource Health Services, have noted the positive impact of the tax credits on their organization’s ability to reach more individuals in need. On the other hand, some opponents argue against using tax dollars to support pregnancy centers that they view as anti-abortion.
This bill comes at a time when Missouri voters have recently amended their state constitution to allow abortion services, overturning a near-total abortion ban. Supporters of the bill hope that it will provide meaningful support to pregnancy centers and help make a positive impact on communities.
Several pro-life bills were introduced at the beginning of the legislative session in January and are still in the process of being considered. This package of bills includes two proposed constitutional amendments. The first amendment would restrict abortion, allowing for exceptions only in cases of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, or incest, as long as the necessary documentation is provided. A public hearing was held on this measure last month.
Other bills being considered include one that would reclassify the abortion drug mifepristone as a Class IV controlled substance, following a similar law passed in Louisiana last year. An additional proposed amendment seeks to make abortion illegal after a fetus reaches viability, typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Further bills introduced in the state focus on the timing of abortions, such as House Bill 194, which aims to prohibit the procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Attorney General Andrew Bailey has stated his commitment to enforcing the abortion ban after fetal viability, emphasizing that under the amendment, the government can still protect innocent life post-viability.
Governor Hochul of New York recently signed a law safeguarding abortion pill prescribers, following the indictment of a doctor in Louisiana. Another bill before the Missouri legislature would outlaw abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
In November, several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana, passed abortion amendments. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order titled “Enforcing the Hyde Amendment,” which repealed two 2022 executive orders from the Biden administration that had expanded abortion access. The reinstatement of the Hyde Amendment prevents federal funding for elective abortions, consistent with policies that prevent taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions.
(Source: Original article on a red state bill potentially reducing tax burden for donors to pro-life pregnancy centers)
