Arkansas Bill Proposes To Include Unborn Children As Dependents on Income Taxes

The Senate Bill 261, an Arkansas bill, was proposed to include unborn children as dependents on their parents’ income taxes. Reportedly, there are two other bills proposed in the state that are also intended for these dependents.

Arkansas Bill Proposal on Income Taxes [Photo: Debt.org]

Senate Bill 261

On February 14, Senator John Payton filed an Arkansas bill that authorizes expecting parents to claim their unborn children as dependents on the state’s income taxes. The Senate Bill 261 includes a child who is carried in the womb no matter what the stage of development as a dependent.

According to Jarrett, in 2022 the Department of Revenue of the state of Georgia also announced that unborn children can also be considered as dependents on the state’s filing of tax returns. This is because lawmakers of the state of Georgia passed the House Bill 481 back in 2019. This bill defined a child to be of the full value starting at a point when the human heartbeat is detected.

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House Bill 1398

Apart from the Senate Bill 261, Representative Les Eaves has moved to amend the House Bill 1398. The amendment increased the income tax credit for stillborn children in the state of Arkansas. According to Cox, the recent laws in the state offer residents with an income tax credit for a stillborn child for $500. Fortunately, this Arkansas bill allows the increase of the income tax credit to $1,500 from $500.

House Bill 1299

Lastly, Senator Jim Dotson and Representative Cameron Cooper intend to establish a non-refundable income tax credit as contributions to resource centers for pregnancy. This Arkansas bill, the House Bill 1299, is expected to provide women with authentic options besides abortion for their pregnancy.

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