TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR AN EMPLOYEE'S MEMBERSHIP IN A HEALTHCARE SHARING MINISTRY OR OTHER MEDICAL COST-SHARING PROGRAM.

House Bill 1698 aims to amend state income tax law concerning employer contributions for an employee's membership in a healthcare sharing ministry or other medical cost-sharing program. The bill clarifies that these employer contributions are treated as an exclusion from an employee's taxable income, meaning employees do not pay state income tax on these specific employer-provided benefits. It also defines a "medical cost-sharing program" as a healthcare funding arrangement where members contribute money to help cover each other's medical expenses.