Bill > HB980

This bill creates a new tax credit program for Missouri residents who adopt animals from animal shelters, offering financial incentives to encourage pet adoption and support animal welfare. Specifically, the bill allows taxpayers to claim a tax credit of up to $125 for each qualified pet adoption from an animal shelter, with a maximum of two tax credits per tax year and a statewide annual cap of $500,000 in total credits. To qualify, the adoption must be of a domesticated vertebrate animal (excluding farm animals) for the purpose of keeping it as a pet, and the taxpayer must provide documentation from the animal shelter. The tax credits are fully refundable but cannot be transferred or carried forward to subsequent tax years. Importantly, if the adopted animal is returned, abused, or not properly cared for, the taxpayer will forfeit or must repay the tax credit. The program is set to begin on January 1, 2026, and will automatically sunset six years later unless reauthorized by the state legislature, ensuring periodic review of the program's effectiveness and impact.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB980&year=2025&code=R