Last year, a number of benevolent tax credits were set to expire. Many lawmakers supported extending the sunset on these programs, but the gridlock on tax credit reform blocked any measure from moving forward.

On Thursday, the Missouri Senate approved the first measures of the 2013 legislative session, and addressed one of our highest priorities for this year. Senate Bill 20, which was combined with Senate Bill 15, which I sponsored, and Senate Bill 19, renews and extends the sunset on a handful of benevolent tax credits, including:

• Public Safety Officer Surviving Spouse Tax Credit, which allows the surviving spouse of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty to take a credit equal to the amount of property taxes paid on the surviving spouse’s property in the year the credit is claimed;
• Champion for Children Tax Credit (formerly known as the Children in Crisis Tax Credit), which goes to individuals and businesses who make contributions to qualifying agencies and organizations that care for children in difficult family situations;
• Residential Dwelling Accessibility Tax Credit, which offsets a portion of the costs for making a home accessible to Missourians with disabilities;
• Pregnancy Resource Center Tax Credit, which can be claimed by taxpayers who make contributions to pregnancy resource centers; and
• Food Pantry Tax Credit, which goes to taxpayers who donate cash or food to a local food pantry.

These programs help support organizations that provide critical aid to Missouri citizens. Without them, many charities would have to close or seriously reduce the number of people they help. We can’t let that happen. Senate Bill 20 will now go to the House for consideration.

In other news, the Missouri Housing Development Commission announced last week that a number of Joplin agencies will receive funds as part of the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program and the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. Both were established to address a variety of housing needs for Missourians.

The local Salvation Army, Children’s Haven of Southwest Missouri and the Lafayette House in Joplin are recipients of ESG funds totaling more than $126,000. Additionally, Economic Security, a non-profit organization that helps low-income individuals and families, will receive $65,000 from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund.

All of these organizations do a wonderful job of caring for people in our community. These funds will go far in ensuring they can continue offering the services many families depend on.