Creating a refundable individual income tax credit for the parent of a stillbirth and making an appropriation, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-3758/1
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 373
July 17, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives Brill, B. Jacobson, Subeck, Armstrong, Bare, Behnke, Dittrich, Emerson, Franklin, Goeben, Goodwin, Gundrum, Hysell, Knodl, Kreibich, McCarville, Miresse, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Prado, Tusler, Udell and Wichgers, cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Hesselbein, Bradley, Dassler-Alfheim, Keyeski, Nass, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Wall and Wanggaard. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.

An Act to amend 71.10 (4) (i); to create 20.835 (2) (cd) and 71.07 (8n) of the statutes; relating to: creating a refundable individual income tax credit for the parent of a stillbirth and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a refundable individual income tax credit of $2,000 that may be claimed by the parents of a stillbirth. The bill defines “stillbirth” as a birth that occurs in this state that results in a stillbirth for which a fetal death report is required. Because the credit is refundable, if the amount of the credit for which the individual is eligible exceeds his or her tax liability, the difference will be refunded to the claimant.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 20.835 (2) (cd) of the statutes is created to read:

20.835 (2) (cd) Stillbirth tax credit. A sum sufficient to pay the claims approved under s. 71.07 (8n).
Section 2. 71.07 (8n) of the statutes is created to read:
71.07 (8n) Stillbirth tax credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:
1. “Claimant” means the parent of a stillbirth who files a claim under this subsection.
2. “Stillbirth” means a birth that occurs in this state that results in a stillbirth for which a fetal death report is required under s. 69.18 (1) (e) 1.
(b) Filing claims. Subject to the limitations and conditions provided in this subsection, a claimant may claim as a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.02 $2,000 for the taxable year in which the stillbirth occurs. If the allowable amount of the claim exceeds the income taxes otherwise due on the claimant’s income, the amount of the claim not used as an offset against those taxes shall be certified by the department of revenue to the department of administration for payment to the claimant by check, share draft, or other draft drawn from the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (2) (cd).
(c) Limitations and conditions. 1. No credit may be claimed under this subsection by a part-year resident or a nonresident of this state.
2. No credit may be allowed under this subsection for a taxable year covering a period of less than 12 months, except for a taxable year closed by reason of the death of the taxpayer.
3. No credit may be allowed under this subsection unless it is claimed within the period specified in s. 71.75 (2).

4. If a married couple files a joint return, the maximum amount that may be claimed by the couple under this subsection is $2,000 for each stillbirth.
5. If a married couple files separate returns, the maximum amount that may be claimed by each spouse under this subsection is $1,000 for each stillbirth.
6. If the parents of a stillbirth are unmarried, the maximum amount that may be claimed by each parent under this subsection is $1,000 for each stillbirth.
7. To claim the credit under this subsection, a claimant shall submit, with his or her return for the taxable year to which the claim relates, a copy of the fetal death report relating to the stillbirth for which the credit is claimed.
(d) Administration. Subsection (9e) (d), to the extent that it applies to the credit under that subsection, applies to the credit under this subsection.
Section 3. 71.10 (4) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
71.10 (4) (i) The total of claim of right credit under s. 71.07 (1), farmland preservation credit under ss. 71.57 to 71.61, farmland preservation credit, 2010 and beyond under s. 71.613, homestead credit under subch. VIII, jobs tax credit under s. 71.07 (3q), business development credit under s. 71.07 (3y), research credit under s. 71.07 (4k) (e) 2. a., veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit under s. 71.07 (6e), enterprise zone jobs credit under s. 71.07 (3w), electronics and information technology manufacturing zone credit under s. 71.07 (3wm), stillbirth tax credit under s. 71.07 (8n), earned income tax credit under s. 71.07 (9e), estimated tax payments under s. 71.09, and taxes withheld under subch. X.
Section 4. Initial applicability.
(1) This act first applies to taxable years beginning on January 1 of the year in which this subsection takes effect, except that if this subsection takes effect after
July 31, this act first applies to taxable years beginning on January 1 of the year following the year in which this subsection takes effect.
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