Bill > HB1980

This bill modifies Texas Family Code sections related to retroactive child support, primarily expanding the timeframe for when child support can be ordered. Specifically, the bill creates a presumption that courts can order retroactive child support starting from the earliest possible date of the child's conception, which can be determined by either a physician's medical assessment or through other compelling evidence like parental testimony. The bill allows courts to require the obligor (the parent paying child support) to pay an equitable portion of prenatal and postnatal healthcare expenses for the mother and child. Additionally, the bill changes language from making retroactive child support optional to mandatory when paternity is established, either through a court order or a valid acknowledgment of paternity. The changes will apply only to orders and acknowledgments made on or after September 1, 2025, with previous orders continuing to be governed by the law in effect at the time they were originally rendered. This legislation aims to provide more comprehensive financial support for children from the earliest stages of their lives.

Budget and Finance

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1980