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HF 511

A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Wills

HF 511 expands fathers' financial obligations to pregnancy- and birth-related costs, adjusts child support calculations, and delays paternity testing until after the child is born.

Introduced, referred to Judiciary.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 511

Summary of HF 511 (Introduced Feb. 20, 2025)

Purpose and intent

HF 511 would expand a father’s financial obligations related to a child, including pregnancy- and birth-related expenses, and adjust how child support is calculated. It also modifies the timeline for paternity testing. The bill aims to ensure fathers contribute toward pregnancy costs and other reasonable expenses incurred by the mother, while aligning paternity procedures with a post-birth testing timeline.

Key provisions

  • Child support calculation

    • For each parent, net income would be used as calculated under the child support guidelines established under Code section 598.21B (orders for child support and medical support).
    • The calculation would take into account any amounts the father previously paid toward pregnancy- or birth-related expenses.

  • Separate payments for pregnancy- and newborn-related expenses

    • The court could order the father to pay a separate amount toward:
    • Reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the mother related to the pregnancy prior to the birth, and
    • Essential items for the health, well-being, and safety of the newborn.

  • Paternity testing timeline

    • Current law requires blood or genetic testing to establish paternity upon court motion or request.
    • HF 511 would require that any blood or genetic tests for a child, mother, or alleged father not be conducted until after the birth of the child.

  • Conforming changes

    • The bill makes conforming and other changes to Code chapter 600B consistent with these provisions.

Affected parties

  • Fathers

    • Potentially higher financial obligations due to pregnancy- and birth-related expenses.
    • May receive consideration for prior payments toward pregnancy-related costs when calculating child support.

  • Mothers and newborns

    • Access to court-ordered contributions for pregnancy-related expenses and essential newborn items.

  • Children

    • Paternity determination would occur after birth, per the bill’s testing timeline.

  • Courts and child support enforcement agencies

    • Additional determinations on separate expenses and revised paternity-testing procedures.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Judiciary on February 20, 2025.
  • Sponsor: WILLS (primary).
  • Effective date: Not specified in the introduced version; would depend on legislative action and any enacted effective date.

Notes for readers

  • The bill ties additional father payments to pregnancy- and newborn-related expenses to existing child support guidelines, while also allowing courts to determine separate obligations for those costs.
  • By delaying paternity testing until after birth, HF 511 would change the timing of paternity determinations from pre- to post-birth.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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