Committee Report

April 2, 2026

 

S. 32

 

Introduced by Senators Grooms, Leber, Rice, Reichenbach, Climer, Garrett, Jackson and Zell

 

S. Printed 4/2/26--H.

Read the first time April 23, 2025

 

________

 

The committee on House Ways and Means

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 32) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws so as to enact the "Pregnancy Resource Act"; by adding Section 12-6-3383 so as to provide for a tax credit for voluntary, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

B.W. BANNISTER for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who make cash contributions to 501(c)(3) charities that are a pregnancy resource center, a crisis pregnancy center, maternity home, or residential program for human trafficking victims. The bill limits the aggregate amount of the tax credit allocated in a calendar year to $3,500,000. Additionally, the bill specifies that no more than 25 percent of the aggregate amount of tax credits may be allocated to a single charitable organization. However, any credits not allocated before June 1, 2026, may be allocated without regard to the 25 percent limit in the same calendar year.

The bill requires each eligible charitable organization to provide DOR with a written certification confirming that it meets all eligibility criteria. In order to be recertified, the eligible charitable organization must provide the department with the number and total amount of voluntary cash contributions in the previous tax year as well as a copy of a compilation, review, or compliance audit of the organization's financial statements relating to the grants received, conducted by a certified public accounting firm. Additionally, DOR is required to compile a list of eligible charitable organizations and make the list publicly available.

The bill will have a minimal expenditure impact on DOR as the agency will be able to develop forms and guidance for this tax credit as well as manage the additional requirements with existing staff and resources.

 

State Revenue

This bill creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who make cash contributions to 501(c)(3) charities that are a pregnancy resource center, a crisis pregnancy center, maternity home, or residential program for human trafficking victims. The amount of the tax credit that can be claimed by a taxpayer is equal to the dollar contributions to the charitable organizations and is limited to 50 percent of the taxpayer's total tax liability for the tax year. Further, the bill limits the aggregate amount of the tax credit allocated in a calendar year to $3,500,000. Additionally, the bill specifies that no more than 25 percent of the aggregate amount of tax credits may be allocated to a single charitable organization, with the exception of credits that are not allocated before June 1, 2026, which are allowed to be allocated without regard to the 25 percent restriction in the same calendar year. The bill also allows unused tax credits to be carried forward for five consecutive years from the close of the tax year in which the credits are earned. The credit is repealed on December 31, 2030, except that any credits earned before the repeal may be claimed for the allowable carryforward period. The bill takes effect upon approval by the Governor and first applies to tax year 2025.

Based upon filings with the Secretary of State of non-profit charitable organizations that self-identify as a pregnancy resource center, a crisis pregnancy center, maternity home, or residential program for human trafficking victims, there were approximately 30 such organizations headquartered in the state. Annual reported contributions totaled approximately $14,743,000 based on filings from either 2022 or 2023. Also, there were 14 additional potentially qualifying charitable organizations headquartered out of state that may also receive contributions from SC taxpayers. Based on these data, we expect the contributions eligible for the new tax credit may reach the annual cap of $3,500,000. Therefore, the bill will reduce General Fund revenue from individual and corporate income taxes by up to $3,500,000 beginning in FY 2026-27 and annually thereafter until FY 2030-31, after which the credit is repealed. However, taxpayers may carry forward the credit for five years, which may affect the timing of the revenue impact.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

_______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PREGNANCY RESOURCE ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3383 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A TAX CREDIT FOR VOLUNTARY CASH CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO A PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER OR CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER AND TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR THE CREDIT.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "Pregnancy Resource Act."

 

SECTION 2.  Article 25, Chapter 6, Title 12 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 12-6-3383. (A) As used in this section:

       (1) "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

       (2)(a) "Eligible charitable organization" means:

           (i) an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a pregnancy resource center, crisis pregnancy center, maternity home, or residential program for human trafficking victims. To be considered an "eligible charitable organization," the organization must:

              (A) certify that no more than twenty percent of the contributions received under this section will be spent on administrative purposes; and

              (B) file the organization's publicly available Internal Revenue Service filings with the Secretary of State annually; and

           (ii) provides services for:

               (A) the prevention and diversion of children from custody with the Department of Social Services;

               (B) the safety, care, and well-being of children in custody of the Department of Social Services;

               (C) the express purpose of creating permanency for children through adoption;

               (D) the prevention of abuse, neglect, abandonment, exploitation, or trafficking of children; or

               (E) the provision of assistance related to carrying a pregnancy to term, preventing abortion, and promoting healthy childbirth.

    (B)(1) A taxpayer who makes voluntary cash contributions during the taxable year to an eligible charitable organization is eligible for a nonrefundable tax credit not to exceed fifty percent of his total tax liability for the taxes imposed by this chapter.

       (2) Any credit claimed under this section but not used in any taxable year may be carried forward for five consecutive years from the close of the tax year in which the credits were earned.

    (C) A person taking a credit authorized by this section shall provide the name of the eligible charitable organization and the amount of the contribution to the department on forms provided by the department.

    (D) Each year, an eligible charitable organization shall provide the department with a written certification that it meets all criteria to be considered an eligible charitable organization. The organization shall also notify the department of any changes that may affect eligibility under this section. In order to be recertified, the eligible charitable organization must provide the department with the number and total amount of voluntary cash contributions in the previous tax year as well as a copy of a compilation, review, or compliance audit of the organization's financial statements relating to the grants received, conducted by a certified public accounting firm.

    (E) The eligible charitable organization's written certification must be signed by an officer of the organization under penalty of perjury. The written certification shall include:

       (1) verification of the organization's status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

       (2) a statement that the organization does not provide, pay for, or provide coverage of abortions and does not financially support any other entity that provides, pays for, or provides coverage of abortions; and

       (3) any other information that the department requires to administer this section.

    (F) The department shall review each written certification and recertification and determine whether the organization meets all the criteria to be considered an eligible charitable organization and notify the organization of its determination. The department shall compile a list of eligible charitable organizations and make the list available to the public.

    (G) Tax credits authorized by this section that are earned by a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation, or other similar pass-through entity, shall be allocated among all partners, members, or shareholders, respectively, either in proportion to their ownership interest in such entity or as the partners, members, or shareholders mutually agree as provided in an executed document.

    (H) A person shall apply for credits with the department on forms prescribed by the department. In the application, the taxpayer shall certify to the department the dollar amount of the contributions made or to be made during the calendar year. Within thirty days after the receipt of an application, the department shall allocate credits based on the dollar amount of contributions as certified in the application. However, if the department cannot allocate the full amount of credits certified in the application due to the limit on the aggregate amount of credits that may be awarded under this section in a calendar year, the department shall so notify the applicant within thirty days with the amount of credits, if any, that may be allocated to the applicant in the calendar year. Once the department has allocated credits to a person, if the contribution for which a credit is allocated has not been made as of the date of the allocation, then the contribution must be made not later than sixty days from the date of the allocation. If the contribution is not made within such time period, then the allocation shall be cancelled and returned to the department for reallocation. Upon final documentation of the contributions, if the actual dollar amount of the contributions is lower than the amount estimated, then the department shall adjust the tax credit allowed under this section.

    (I) The aggregate amount of tax credits that may be allocated by the department under this section during a calendar year shall not exceed three million five hundred thousand dollars. For credits allocated during a calendar year for contributions to eligible charitable organizations, no more than twenty-five percent of such credits may be allocated for contributions to a single eligible charitable organization. However, credits not allocated before June 1, 2026 may be allocated without regard to such restriction for the same calendar year.

    (J) The department may adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

 

SECTION 3.  The provisions of this act are repealed on December 31, 2030, except that if the credit allowed by Section 12-6-3383, as added by this act, is earned before the repeal, the provisions of Section 12-6-3383(B)(2) continue to apply until the credits have been fully claimed.

 

SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and first applies to tax years beginning after 2024.

----XX----