Sponsors
The bill shifts more pregnancy and delivery out‑of‑pocket costs onto biological fathers—reducing mothers' immediate financial burden and clarifying covered costs—but excludes abortion expenses and creates potential financial hardship for fathers, administrative costs for states, and legal uncertainty.
Pregnant mothers and their families can require biological fathers to pay at least half of reasonable out‑of‑pocket pregnancy and delivery medical costs when requested, reducing the immediate financial burden on mothers (including low‑income families).
Clarifies which types of pregnancy‑related expenses are covered (premiums, cost‑sharing, deductions), reducing disputes and making administration more predictable for state child‑support programs.
Women may be denied payment for abortion‑related care because the bill explicitly excludes abortion expenses from covered medical costs, limiting financial access to some reproductive care.
Biological fathers could face increased child‑support enforcement liabilities and potential financial hardship (including retroactive obligations) if required to cover 50% of covered pregnancy/delivery costs when requested.
States may incur additional administrative and legislative costs to amend IV‑D plans and enforce the new payment obligation, diverting limited state resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires state child‑support plans to ensure biological fathers pay at least 50% of a pregnant mother's reasonable out‑of‑pocket medical expenses for pregnancy and delivery, excluding abortion costs.
Requires state child-support plans to create and enforce a rule that the biological father must pay at least 50% of a pregnant mother’s reasonable out‑of‑pocket medical expenses related to the pregnancy and delivery when the mother asks for payment. The rule covers premiums, cost‑sharing, deductibles, and other similar out‑of‑pocket costs but explicitly excludes abortion‑related expenses. States must update their child‑support plans to include this obligation. The requirement becomes effective Jan 1 of the first calendar year after enactment, with a longer deadline for states that need to pass new laws to conform their plans.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Ashley Hinson · Last progress December 4, 2025