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Senate committee agrees to print proposal extending child tax credit to pregnant people
Summary
The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee voted to print RS32190, a proposal to extend Idaho's existing child tax credit to pregnant persons; sponsors said the proposal would recognize pregnancy-related costs and could be claimed by dependents or the taxpayer who claims them. Fiscal-note assumptions cited March of Dimes birth data.
Senators on the Idaho Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee voted to print RS32190 on Feb. 4, a proposed measure that would extend the state's existing child tax credit to people who are pregnant.
Senator Ben Toews, who introduced the filing, told the committee, “And before you is RS32190. This is, the preborn child tax credit.” He said the proposal “recognizes that there's costs associated with the pregnancy” and described the change as a way for the Senate to “support” pregnant people and the children they are carrying.
The proposal would allow the credit to be claimed by the pregnant person or, if that person is a dependent, by the parent or guardian who claims that dependent. "If it's a dependent, then what this would do is it would offer the credit to the parent or guardian," Toews said, adding that aligned with the committee's fiscal-note assumptions that parents commonly bear pregnancy costs.
Committee members asked about specific scenarios. Senator Taylor asked whether a pregnant dependent or the parents of a dependent could claim the credit; Toews confirmed the bill text contemplates both possibilities. Senator Robbie asked what would happen if a pregnancy ended, such as by miscarriage; Toews said the legislation, as drafted, would still allow eligibility, noting there are often medical costs incurred regardless of outcome.
Committee members also questioned the fiscal-note figures cited during the presentation. A committee member asked where the number "3,443,590" in the fiscal note came from; Toews said the committee staff used March of Dimes data estimating 22,397 births in Idaho in 2023 and applied a three-quarter (nine-month) period to reach the figure used in the fiscal calculations.
Senator Anton moved to introduce (print) RS32190. After brief additional questions and no recorded roll-call objections, the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair announced, "The RS will be printed."
