H.B. 4522 – Rep. Mary Whiteford
Current Status
H.B. 4522 was introduced by Rep. Mary Whiteford on April 25, 2017 and referred to the House Tax Policy Committee.
Description
This bill will enable families that experience a stillbirth after 20 weeks to claim a child deduction on their state income taxes in the year of the stillbirth. This is intended to help families cover the costs of prenatal care or the funeral arrangements incurred. This cannot take away the grief for the loss of a child, however it can help ease the financial burdens of the stillbirth.
History
In 2006, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law P.A. 319 which was the stillborn child tax credit. It allowed for a one-time credit to be take on the state income tax return for the year of the stillbirth. However, in 2011, Governor Rick Snyder cut the tax credit along with a number of other credits in an effort to address Michigan’s economic downturn. H.B. 4522 differs from the original tax credit in that it allows for a one-time deduction rather than a simple credit.