Last month, State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) introduced a bill to offer income tax credits for those who donated to pregnancy resource centers.
House Bill 208 (HB208), also called the Pregnancy Resource Act, would give credits to individuals and businesses that make voluntary cash contributions to an eligible pregnancy center or residential maternity facility.
During an interview with Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5 on Friday, the Franklin County Republican lawmaker said he believed it was important the state took up such a role given the passage of the nation's strictest abortion ban in 2019 and its implementation after the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Center decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
"It's a very important bill. In 2019, we passed the most restrictive abortion law in the United States," Kiel said. "I'm super-proud of that. I believe it was the right thing to do. I believe it is the right thing to do. And now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, it is in place statewide. And hopefully, the outcome of that is that we have many new babies born and many new mamas across the state, and with that comes a responsibility. It is a responsibility of the churches and the communities to take care of them, and it is also the responsibility of government to take care of the least of these."
"This simply gives a tax credit to those individuals who donate to pregnancy crisis centers," he continued. "It would be a tax credit on your state income tax up to 50% of your tax liability. It will give up to $10 million in funds to these pregnancy crisis centers across the state. We think there's around 57 of those serving communities throughout the state, and they help with everything from prenatal care, all the way through the birthing process, help the new moms learn how to cope with motherhood, help with their health care needs, and then sometimes, they help with the adoption process. And so, our focus has to be on caring for these children, these new moms, after these babies are born. I certainly hope that's the outcome of our anti-abortion bill, and I hope this passes so we can get help directly to those centers who are caring for those children."
Jeff Poor is the executive editor of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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