JEFFERSON CITY — Today (3-13), the General Assembly gave final approval to benevolent tax credit legislation, Senate Bill 20, 15 and 19, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield.    

“I am pleased with the General Assembly’s swift action and strong support,” said Sen. Dixon. “With this bill, we tap the strong charitable spirit of Missourians to drive local efforts to help Missouri’s neediest citizens. It encourages individuals to give locally and support their friends and neighbors who are on the front lines helping others.”

SB 20, 15 and 19 renew or extend several benevolent tax credit programs, including: 

• The Public Safety Officer Surviving Spouse Tax Credit aids the surviving spouses of public safety officers killed in the line of duty;
• The Children in Crisis Tax Credit—which will be renamed the Champion for Children tax credit in honor of former Sen. Norma Champion—benefits crisis nurseries, child advocacy centers, and CASAs;
• The Residential Dwelling Accessibility Tax Credit allows individuals with disabilities to live at home longer, saving taxpayer dollars;
• The Pregnancy Resource Center Tax Credit aids pregnancy resource centers to provide services to women with unplanned or crisis pregnancies;
• The Food Pantry Tax Credit helps Missouri’s food banks and pantries provide millions of pounds of food to hungry Missourians. 

The bill would extend most of these programs to Dec. 31, 2019. For those benevolent tax credits which had expired, the bill would make contributions made on or after Jan. 1, 2013, eligible for the tax credits.

With this final approval, the bill will be sent to the governor’s desk to await his signature. The measure also contains an emergency clause, making it effective immediately upon his signature.