Bill > HB1193

This bill relates to updating Hawaii's parentage laws by repealing the existing Uniform Parentage Act of 1973 and adopting portions of the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017. The bill introduces comprehensive changes to how parentage is established and recognized in the state, with several key provisions. It creates a new legal framework that ensures equal treatment of children born to same-gender couples, adds a new legal status of "functional parent," and includes updated provisions reflecting developments in assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy. The bill expands the definition of parentage beyond traditional biological relationships, allowing for more inclusive recognition of parent-child relationships. It establishes detailed processes for voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, judicial proceedings to determine parentage, genetic testing, and specific rules for parentage in cases of assisted reproduction and surrogacy. The legislation also makes numerous consequential amendments to existing statutes to align them with the new parentage framework, replacing gendered language with gender-neutral terminology and updating references across various legal codes. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2026, and does not affect rights, duties, or proceedings that occurred before its effective date.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1193&year=2026