ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) A legislative tax panel approved a bill Monday that would let state taxpayers deduct donations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts when they file their 2009 taxes this spring.

It would make state tax law match up with a federal law allowing taxpayers to deduct donations made by the end of February from their 2009 tax returns instead of waiting until next year.

The House Taxes Committee passed the bill from Rep. Ann Lenczewski on a voice vote.

Lenczewski says the bill has received bipartisan support. She expects it to pass through the Legislature quickly.

The Haiti proposal is similar to a state law passed in 2005 to encourage donations to help victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)