Red state bill could zero out tax burden for donors to pro-life pregnancy centers
Missouri residents who donate to pregnancy resource centers that do not provide abortion services may soon enjoy significant reductions in their state tax bill if a new GOP bill is passed into law. SB 681, sponsored by state Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican, aims to establish a 100% tax credit for such donations starting in 2026, increasing 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.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Sen. Carter explained, “I think states that are Republican-led are racing to try to figure out how to get more tax dollars back to their communities. So, we don’t want to shift the burden necessarily to the taxpayer, but to incentivize people being able to say, ‘with my own dollars, I want to invest in these women who are community members,’ and in supporting those things that they also value.”
Under the proposed bill, taxpayers can claim up to $50,000 in tax credits each year for donations of at least $100, with any unused credits carrying over to the next year. SB 681 also eliminates the previous $3.5 million cap on total credits that could be claimed for fiscal years up to 2021. The bill has also been introduced in the state House and passed the tax reform committee last month.
Sen. Carter emphasized that the bill aims to empower individuals to support causes they believe in by allowing them to personally invest in organizations aligned with their values. She noted that Republicans are currently in a transformative stage when it comes to promoting pro-life options.
Written testimonies submitted in support of the bill highlighted the positive impact of tax credits on pregnancy resource centers in Missouri. Alissa Gross, CEO of Resource Health Services, expressed gratitude for the increased budget that has allowed them to reach more individuals. Cindy Speer, a board member at Oasis Resource Center, credited the Missouri tax credit for enabling the completion of a debt-free 5000-square-foot center.
However, opposition to the bill has also emerged, with some expressing concerns about taxpayer dollars going to “unregulated, anti-abortion pregnancy centers” that discourage women from having abortions. The bill comes after Missouri voters approved an abortion amendment in the state constitution during the November election, overturning a near-total abortion ban.
In addition to the tax credit bill, Missouri lawmakers are considering a series of pro-life measures in the 2025 legislative session. These include proposals to ban abortion except in cases of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, or certain instances of rape or incest. Other bills aim to reclassify the abortion drug mifepristone as a controlled substance, make abortion illegal after fetal viability, and ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
The political landscape surrounding abortion rights is evolving at both the state and federal levels, with several states passing abortion amendments and President Donald Trump reinstating the Hyde Amendment to prohibit federal funding for elective abortions. As debates continue, Missouri residents await the outcome of the proposed tax credit bill and other pro-life measures under consideration in the state legislature.
