Senate OKs temporary bigger dependency exemption for the year a child is born, adds adoption language
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Summary
Senate passed a substitute for Senate Bill 10 32 to allow a one‑year doubled dependency exemption (from $1,200 to $2,400) in the tax year a child is born; floor amendments added adopted children and clarified married‑filing‑jointly treatment before the substitute was perfected and printed.
The Missouri Senate voted to perfect and print a substitute to Senate Bill 10 32, which would let taxpayers claim a doubled dependency exemption in the year a child is born.
Sponsor (Senator from Lawrence) said the measure provides tax relief for families facing the high cost of pregnancy and birth. "Having a baby is probably one of the most joyous occasions and also one of the most expensive," the sponsor said, citing an outside estimate of average pregnancy and birth costs.
Lawmakers asked whether the language covered adopted children and whether stay‑at‑home parents would be disadvantaged. Senators from Jefferson and the 24th offered clarifying amendments to add "or adopts" in multiple places and to allow the deduction to be claimed by the birthing taxpayer or, when appropriate, by a spouse filing jointly. Those amendments were adopted on the floor.
With clarifications adopted, the senate substitute was declared perfected and ordered printed; the measure was then referred to Fiscal Oversight for review of its fiscal effects.
Next steps: The substitute will proceed through committee referral (fiscal oversight) before a final vote by the full Senate and any further action by the House and governor.