Provide tax credits for children and child care

This Montana bill establishes three tax credits to support families and child-care workers: a $1,200 child tax credit for parents of children age 5 or younger, a $1,600 credit for child-care workers who work at least 20 hours per week for six months, and a $5,000 maximum credit for employers who provide dependent care assistance to employees. The child tax credit is available to residents with earned income and limited investment income, while the worker credit applies to those employed in licensed day-care centers, family homes, or early childhood programs. All three credits are refundable and will be adjusted annually for inflation, with the department authorized to create rules for administering the program.