General Asssembly Passes Tax Credit for Dues Paying Union Members

The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill sponsored by Senators Nicole Poore and Jack Walsh that will allow Delaware residents who are active members of a labor organization to claim a tax credit equal to the amount they pay for their annual dues, not to exceed $500.00. The vote was 26-12-1-3, with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans voting no, not voting or absent. The vote back in May in the Senate was 17-3-1, with three Republicans voting no and two Republicans joining all the Democrats in voting yes.

Senate Bill 72 complements earlier efforts of this General Assembly to diversify Delaware’s workforce. “In January, the Senate passed my legislation, which — among other things — aimed to diversify the pool of workers on public works projects by creating a pilot program for community workforce agreements,” said Sen. Walsh. “Between launching the CWA pilot program and the tax relief that will come from SB 72, we are creating innovative,  inclusive ways to increase union participation here in Delaware.”

Senate Bill 72 – Tax Credit for Dues Paying Union Members	Currrent Status – Senate passed 17-3-1 and House passed 26-12-1-2. Sent to the Governor.
House Sponsors – Longhurst, Williams, Lynn, Morrison	Senate Sponsors – Poore, Walsh, Gay, Lockman, Mantzavinos, McBride, Sturgeon, Towsend
House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Heffernan Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Matthews Minor-Brown Moore Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton	Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson Pettyjohn
House No Votes – Briggs King Collins Gray Hensley Hilovsky Morris Postles Shupe Smith Spiegelman Vanderwende Yearick	Senate No Votes – Wilson, Richardson, Hocer
House Absents or Not Voting – (Absent) Short, Dukes (Not Voting) Ramone	Senate Absent or Not Voting – Lawson

“Our unions have long been the driving force behind competitive wages, good benefits, and protections for everyday workers. Unions provide a clear pathway for young workers to not just find a job, but to get started on a meaningful career,” said Sen. Poore. “This legislation removes a barrier to union participation by providing annual tax relief to the hardworking Delawareans who choose to join their local labor organization and reap the benefits of union membership.”

“Labor unions are the backbone of middle-class workers, ensuring that millions of Americans are protected in their jobs and paid fairly for their work. For years, union members enjoyed a federal tax credit for the dues they paid into those organizations,” said House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst. “With that credit being eliminated several years ago, the least we can do as a state is offer that same credit to Delaware union members on their state taxes. It’s a small but meaningful way to recognize the importance of professional memberships and the benefits they bring to all workers.”