Senate committee backs resolution to seek federal adoption funds for birth‑mother support

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Jan. 31 voted to send RS32271 to print, a concurrent resolution stating legislative support for accepting federal funds for “adoption education, adoption awareness, and the improvement and expansion of birth mother support and care.” Senator Harris moved the resolution to print; the motion passed on a voice vote with Senator Wintrow recorded as voting nay.

The resolution, sponsored in committee by Senator Julie Van Orden (District 30), grew out of conversations about federal grants that previously flowed to Idaho for services related to pregnancy and adoption but which state agencies stopped accepting after changes in state law. Van Orden told the committee that state agencies had declined some grants because the grants required activities the state could no longer perform under current state law.

Terry Markcroft, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Unplanned Good, told the committee her national coalition is working to change federal grant language so funds could be used for adoption education and birth‑mother supports if and when federal grants become available. "We advocate for adoption for women facing unplanned pregnancy," Markcroft said, describing four funding "buckets," the largest two being adoption education and birth‑mother care and support.

Committee members asked about potential "strings attached" to federal dollars. Senator Zanderfeld expressed concern that accepting federal funds can carry requirements the state might not want; Markcroft said the national group she represents intends to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to try to ensure grant language aligns with the state's goals. Senator Wintrow said she supports medical, legal and counseling support for birth mothers but was troubled by lack of specific grant language and said she planned to vote no on the motion in committee while seeking more details.

The committee voted to send RS32271 to print, which places the concurrent resolution into the legislative printing process and precedes formal consideration on the Senate floor. The committee did not appropriate funds or alter existing statutes; the resolution signals the legislature's readiness to receive federal grant dollars if federal grant terms change.

A floor sponsor will be required for any further action; the committee record shows the resolution will continue through the legislative process. For now, RS32271 is a statement of legislative support and not a binding appropriation.