Rep. Vicky Steiner, R-Dickinson, introduced and urged passage of HB1239, a bill relating to an individual tax deduction for a stillbirth, during a debate in the house chamber on Thursday afternoon. The bill passed on a vote of 90-0
North Dakotans who experience a stillbirth are one step closer to being eligible for a one-time state tax deduction that could help them with the cost of medical and burial expenses.
The North Dakota House passed House Bill 1239 by a 90-0 vote Thursday. HB1239 would allow parents of a stillborn child to qualify for a tax exemption that families file for their living children, when they file a fetal death certificate. The tax exemption would be the year in which the stillbirth occurred.
“This is more of an oversight in tax policy,” Rep. Vicky Steiner, R-Dickinson, said. “The child was not born alive, and, oftentimes, they also have burial expenses in this situation.”
Steiner said a stillbirth has been defined in state statute for about 20 years and applies to such births that occur between the 20-week mark and full term. Those that occur prior to 20 weeks are classified as a miscarriage and wouldn’t be applicable to HB1239.
Federal law doesn’t allow for claiming stillborn children on those taxes but at least five states allow for a one-time tax credit or deduction.
Steiner, who was the bill carrier for HB1239 on the House floor, told lawmakers that, according to state vital statistics data, there have been 34 to 75 stillbirths per year from 2001 to 2015.
HB1239 passed without any debate.
House Bill 1239 sponsors
House Bill 1239 is sponsored by Reps. Kim Koppelman, R-West Fargo, Roger Brabandt, R-Minot, Karen Karls, R-Bismarck, Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, Aaron McWilliams, R-Hillsboro, Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, Christopher Olson, R-West Fargo, Kathy Skroch, R-Lidgerwood and Gary Sukut, R-Williston and Sens. Robert Erbele, R-Lehr and Diane Larson, R-Bismarck
(Reach Nick Smith at 701-250-8255 or 701-223-8482 or at [email protected].)
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