Mothers who choose to stay at home during the first year of their child's life could be getting a little baby present from Utah lawmakers.
On Thursday, the Senate approved SB62, which would give a $100 income tax credit for stay-at-home moms whose family incomes are less than $50,000 a year."In a very small way, we are saying the state cares that (mothers) take care of their children and stay at home," Sen. Robert Muhlestein, R-Mapleton and sponsor of the bill, said during Wednesday's debate of the bill.
However, several lawmakers were concerned about the message it sends when the state gives a tax break to stay-at-home moms at the same time it is struggling to fund programs to get single moms back to work and off of welfare.
"This is not a criticism of those who don't stay home, but it is a support of those who do," said Sen. Al Mansell, R-Sandy.
While the bill passed, the biggest test will be finding $500,000 to pay for the tax break.