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Representative recounts family tragedy while proposing $500 stillbirth tax credit
Summary
Representative Les Eves described the stillbirth of his granddaughter and introduced HB1457, a proposal for a one-time $500 tax credit for parents of stillborn children at 20 weeks gestation; DFA estimated an approximate $139,000 fiscal impact based on 2018 CDC data of about 279 stillbirths in Arkansas.
Representative Les Eves told the Senate Revenue & Tax Committee a personal story about the stillbirth of his granddaughter, identified the child as Paisley, and introduced House Bill 1457 to provide a one-time $500 state tax credit to parents of a stillborn child who reached 20 weeks of gestation.
Eves described the medical, emotional and financial burdens families face after a stillbirth, including funeral and burial costs and potential medical testing. "That little baby girl was my granddaughter. Her name was Paisley," Eves said as he recounted the loss and urged support for the measure. He said the credit would acknowledge parenthood, raise awareness of infant mortality and help families with costs.
Senator Johnson expressed condolences and asked whether the committee could suspend session rules and pass the bill immediately; the chair said budget timing and session rules made immediate passage unlikely. Eves said the House had considered an amendment to raise the credit to $1,000 but that he preferred $500 as a starting point.
Paul Gehring of DFA presented a fiscal-impact estimate of approximately $139,000 for the credit, which he said was based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics showing roughly 279 stillbirths in Arkansas in 2018. Gehring offered to answer follow‑up questions about the fiscal statement. The committee did not take a recorded vote on HB1457 during the session and the meeting adjourned.
The bill defines stillbirth consistent with the medical standard cited in testimony (20 weeks of gestation) and seeks to provide modest financial relief to grieving parents; DFA's estimate places the fiscal cost in the low six figures based on historical stillbirth counts.
