Bill > SB942

This bill modifies Texas Family Code provisions related to retroactive child support, allowing courts to order support payments starting from the earliest possible date of a child's conception. Specifically, the bill establishes a presumption that it is reasonable and in the child's best interest to order retroactive support from conception, which can be determined by either a physician's medical assessment or preponderance of evidence presented in court. The bill also allows courts to order the obligor (the parent responsible for paying support) to cover an equitable portion of prenatal and postnatal healthcare expenses for the mother and child. Additionally, the bill requires courts to confirm the total amount of retroactive child support and render a cumulative money judgment for the full amount owed. The changes apply only to paternity orders and acknowledgments of paternity rendered or executed on or after September 1, 2025, ensuring that existing legal arrangements are not retroactively altered. This legislation aims to provide more comprehensive financial support for children from the earliest stages of their existence and clarify the legal obligations of parents.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB942