Committee favors informational organ-donor language on tax return packet; bill added to consent calendar

Senate Bill 229 would add an informational sentence and link about organ donation to the individual income tax instruction packet to encourage registration. The committee voted to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation and later voted to place it on the consent calendar.

Sponsor Senator Reby told the committee the measure is designed to increase organ-donor registration and noted that one donor can save eight lives and enhance many more. “This would just provide an informational piece on the instruction page which would be about page 14,” the sponsor said.

Representative Christopherson asked whether the bill ties to other drivers for donor registration; the sponsor said the bill stands alone as an informational addition to the tax materials and does not tie to other registration venues.

No public opposition was recorded. A committee member moved to place the bill on the consent calendar; that motion passed. The committee recommended SB229 favorably and placed it on the consent calendar for floor consideration.