After failing to pass last year, the Alabama Legislature will have another chance to deliberate a bill by State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russelville) allowing tax credits for people who donate to certain pregnancy centers.
House Bill 356 (HB356), also called the Pregnancy Resource Act, seeks to offer state tax credits to individuals and businesses that make voluntary cash contributions to an eligible pregnancy center or residential maternity facility.
The amount of credit that may be claimed by a taxpayer in a taxable year shall not exceed 50% of the taxpayer's total state income tax liability.
Pregnancy centers, also called crisis pregnancy centers or pregnancy resource centers, offer services to pregnant mothers who lack traditional resources. The centers typically serve low-income mothers or those without an adequate support system. The centers provide financial assistance and birth education and operate as clinics, performing ultrasounds and more.
The centers are not-for-profit operations that function off donations from individuals and businesses.
Kiel filed an identical bill last year. It passed the House but ran out of time before passing the Senate. In the House, Democrats used up ample debate time discussing the state's position on abortion.
"From a donor or a taxpayer's view, they will be allowed to give up to half of whatever their state tax burden is to a pregnancy crisis center," Kiel said. "From the state's point of view, it's capped at $10 million, so it has a minimum impact on the Education Trust fund."
Kiel told 1819 News that, although Democrats will undoubtedly use the opportunity with HB356 to further protest abortion rights in the state, as they did last year.
"It seems like any time there's anything related to birth or babies, that [Democrats] try to relate it to abortion in some way. We had it with the adoption bill that [State Rep.] Ginny Shaver passed last year and with other stuff. It seems like that's always the case."
"It's not a related argument," Kiel said. "These are not abortion centers. These are pregnancy crisis centers, so when someone has a problem, they're looking for resources, looking for next steps. And these pregnancy centers even provide information and assistance after the birth. So when a mom is looking for information on parenting or looking for assistance with supplies or clothing, that's what these pregnancy crisis centers provide is really knowledge and resources for pregnant mothers."
Far from believing that pregnancy centers have lost their effectiveness since the overturning of Roe V. Wade, Kiel believes pregnancy centers are even more needed since Alabama's abortion restrictions took effect in 2022.
"There's never been a bigger need for pregnancy crisis centers because, after we passed the legislation that outlawed abortion in Alabama, there should be more babies in Alabama than ever and there should be more mothers in Alabama than ever," Kiel continued. "They are looking for resources and how to be good parents, what to do if they don't want to be a parent and what are the adoption options. So our pregnancy crisis centers are needed now more than ever. They perform an essential role in Alabama by just helping those folks who are going to be parents."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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