State of Montana Newsroom
Governor Gianforte Promotes Adoption With Adoptive Families
Highlights Montana’s new adoption tax credit
MISSOULA, Mont. – Joining adoptive parents and their children, Governor Greg Gianforte today hosted a roundtable discussion to promote adoption and highlight a new adoption tax credit for parents who open their loving homes to children.
“Adoption is a precious, life-changing gift, and the high costs of adoption shouldn’t be an obstacle for families to adopt a child,” said Gov. Gianforte. “Through the adoption tax credit, we’ve made it easier for families to open their happy, healthy, loving homes to children.”
Gov. Gianforte viewing a young girl’s drawing of her family
A key element of the governor’s Budget for Montana Families and carried in the legislature by Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, House Bill 225 provides families an adoption tax credit of $5,000, or $7,500 if the child is adopted within Montana.
The new law went into effect when the governor signed it on May 16, 2023, and applies retroactively to eligible adoptions on or after July 1, 2022, claimed on tax returns filed for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022.
According to the Family Equality Council, the cost of adoption can exceed $40,000.
“But there’s so much you can’t put a receipt on,” said Andy Erdahl, an adoptive father of six children.
Hosting a roundtable at Missoula Alliance Church today, the governor heard from parents about why they choose to foster children and adopt.
“We’ve seen the cycle oftentimes. These kids that grow up in the foster care system, and then they have kids that grow up in foster care. We’re hoping to break that cycle,” said Matt Peterson, father of three children, two of whom were adopted.
His wife, Katie Peterson, added, “Yes, [fostering] is hard, and yes it hurts to say goodbye, but it’s not about us. We’re doing it because kids need a home.”
The Peterson family sharing their story with the governor
“Being pro-life doesn’t end when a child is born, we knew that there needed to be someone to step up for the vulnerable children whose parents made that brave choice of life for them,” said Erdahl.
Since 2021, the state has finalized a total of 861 adoptions with approximately 2,211 children in foster care today.
Earlier this week, Gov. Gianforte proclaimed November as Adoption Month in Montana.
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