Georgia Revenue Department: Unborn children can be claimed as dependents

The Georgia Division of Income confirmed Monday that Georgians can declare embryos with cardiac exercise as dependents on their taxes.

Why it issues: That is among the many first concrete steering from Georgia’s state authorities concerning the implications of its anti-abortion regulation’s personhood provision, which grants full constitutional rights to any embryo or fetus with detectable cardiac exercise.

What’s taking place: From July 20, 2022, taxpayers can declare an exemption within the quantity of $3,000 per unborn baby, based on the division.

• “Related medical information or different supporting paperwork” could must be offered.

The massive image: Following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, a problem to Georgia’s anti-abortion regulation and its personhood language failed in federal courtroom. Opponents have since sued in Georgia state courtroom.

• Personhood provisions have been challenged in different states, together with Arizona the place a decide halted its implementation, discovering it “unconstitutionally imprecise.”
• Critics in Georgia have argued personhood opens a Pandora’s field of authorized grey space.

State of play: The Georgia Division of Public Well being has already up to date its literature on the “Ladies’s Proper to Know” coverage to incorporate abortion restrictions set out by HB 481, in addition to the definition of “medical emergency” which constitutes an exemption below the brand new regulation.

• The coverage stems from a 2005 regulation that mandated abortions solely might occur 24 hours after a girl is knowledgeable of dangers and particulars of the fetus, amongst different data.

The state Division of Household & Youngsters Companies has finalized new steering and varieties for baby assist enforcement to assist new moms safe dwelling bills for his or her unborn kids, which the regulation’s personhood provision outlines, based on division spokeswoman Kylie Winton.

What we’re watching: The Division of Transportation didn’t reply to a request for remark about steering relating to HB 481 and HOV lanes.

• In Texas, one lady is preventing a ticket by arguing her unborn baby qualifies her to experience within the HOV lane.