A bill penned by two local state legislators has taken its first step toward becoming law.
Senator Andre Jacque and Representative Lindee Brill’s Assembly Bill 373, which aims to provide state recognition to stillbirth parents, unanimously passed the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means.
The bill would provide a $2,000 refundable individual income tax credit to parents of stillborn children, an idea eight other states have already enacted.
Sen. Jacque previously introduced this legislation, but said he and his colleagues have “heard the emotionally devastating stories from parents of stillborn children over the past several sessions…now is the time to pass this legislation.”
Rep. Brill calls Assembly Bill 373, “a vital, bipartisan piece of legislation that will make a real difference in the lives of Wisconsin families suffering the loss of a child through stillbirth.”
The duo noted that over 300 mothers endure the trauma of stillbirth in Wisconsin each year.
These parents experience many of the same expenses as newborn parents, such as delivery costs, while also enduring other expenses, such as funeral costs, counseling, and lost time at work.
The bill’s identical companion legislation, SB379, passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue on an 8-0 vote in September.
Both bills are now awaiting a vote before the full Assembly and Senate, before moving to the governor for final approval.
