❌ HB340
Enact the Baby Bonus Act
Current Status: In House Committee (Ways and Means)
Summary
The bill creates an income tax credit for employers who provide a childbirth bonus of at least one thousand dollars to employees who give birth or adopt a child. The credit is nonrefundable and capped at fifty thousand dollars in total bonuses per employer per taxable year. Employers must maintain records for five years and may be required to provide additional information to the tax commissioner.
Rationale
The bill introduces a government-mandated benefit (childbirth bonus) which conflicts with the Libertarian principles of minimal government intervention in employment and compensation agreements. Both LP and LPO platforms advocate for free markets and oppose government-mandated benefits, leading to a mixed alignment score.
Risks and Concerns
- Increased government intervention in employer-employee relationships
- Potential for cronyism or favoritism in tax credit distribution
- Encouragement of dependency on government incentives