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House Bill 1522 would extend and clarify diaper bank tax credit to support statewide diaper banks
Summary
Representative Becky Lawbinger presented HB 1522 to extend the diaper bank tax credit sunset for six years and to clarify qualifying definitions so diaper banks that are part of larger organizations remain eligible; proponents said the credit supports diaper banks that distributed millions of diapers statewide.
Representative Becky Lawbinger told the committee House Bill 1522 would extend the sunset for the diaper bank tax credit for six years and incorporate clarifying language—drawn from a Senate version—to ensure organizations that operate diaper banks but also provide other services remain eligible. "All children from either party, race, religion, children need diapers," Lawbinger said, describing the tax credit as support for benevolent agencies serving families in need.
Multiple diaper-bank representatives and nonprofit witnesses testified in favor. Ron Berry (registered lobbyist for the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank) said the amendment would allow previously excluded organizations such as the Springfield Diaper Bank to qualify; Ward Cook of HappyBottoms (Kansas City) said Missouri diaper banks distributed 12,000,000 diapers last year to over 22,000 infants and toddlers and warned that without the credit the banks could collectively lose close to $1 million in donations. Ryan Deboof of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks said his Diaper Bank of the Ozarks could not participate under the prior language because it is part of a larger organization; the proposed change would include such organizations.
Questions from committee members focused on the specifics of the clarifying definition, whether warehousing or affiliated services would affect eligibility, and whether the national diaper-bank network provides financial support (testimony indicated it provides access to discounted diapers rather than direct funding). The sponsor and witnesses said the change would not raise the tax-credit cap and expected participating organizations to operate within the existing aggregate limits.
The committee heard broad support from nonprofits, faith-based groups and advocates; no opposition was recorded at the hearing.
