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House approves voluntary tax-return option to fund diaper distribution program
Summary
The Utah House passed a measure allowing taxpayers to donate part of their income tax return to a new diaper fund administered by the Department of Human Services; the third substitute passed 55–15 and will go to the Senate.
Representative Silvia Dominguez said the bill would add an optional donation choice on state income tax forms to support a new “diaper fund.” The proposal would let filers direct part of their refund to the fund; the Department of Human Services would select a nonprofit grantee to distribute diapers statewide.
Dominguez said the program is voluntary and not an ongoing line-item appropriation. “It’s an opportunity for you to select on your tax return to donate to the new diaper fund program that will be administrated by the Department of Human Services,” she said on the House floor. She said the department would award grants to a nonprofit with at least 10 years' experience to manage distribution.
Supporters said the tax-return option would increase the purchasing power of private donations and complement existing diaper drives. Representative Daley-Provost said donations administered through nonprofit partners would stretch farther than individual retail purchases: “As a citizen who wants to make sure that low-income families can provide diapers for their children, I can provide far more diapers to those families per dollar than if I just went to the grocery store,” she said.
Opponents urged caution about adding state-administered donation channels. Representative Malloy said he supported the cause but preferred private diaper drives to a tax-form donation, arguing the state’s involvement would require resources and oversight: “I stand in opposition to this bill, and not because I don’t believe in the concept,” Malloy said on the floor.
The House adopted the third substitute. The sponsor described program details on the floor: donors may specify any amount on their tax return or donate directly to the department; donated funds could be used to cover administrative overhead and program delivery; the department would select a nonprofit grantee with demonstrated experience (the sponsor said 10 years). The sponsor also said the bill creates a named “diaper fund” and does not establish ongoing appropriations from the general fund.
The third substitute of HB 547 passed the House on a roll call, 55 yes, 15 no. The bill was sent to the Senate for further consideration.
Votes at a glance: Third substitute HB 547 — adopted, 55 yes, 15 no, to the Senate.
Looking ahead, the sponsor said she and colleagues planned a diaper drive later in the week to accompany the legislative option.
