NICK SMITH Bismarck Tribune January 19, 2017
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.
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.
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 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
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