Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1182

Introduced
4/9/25  

Caption

In support matters generally, providing for support of unborn child.

Impact

This bill represents a significant change in family law as it introduces a formal mechanism for addressing the financial responsibilities of biological fathers prior to a child's birth. By allowing unborn child support actions to be initiated, it aims to provide more financial security for mothers and unborn children. This could potentially reshape existing custody and support paradigms, making them more inclusive of prenatal considerations and affecting future legislation on parental rights and responsibilities.

Summary

House Bill 1182 seeks to amend Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by introducing provisions for the support of unborn children. This legislation would empower biological mothers to initiate support actions against biological fathers for financial support commencing from the date of the mother's first prenatal medical visit. The bill establishes that courts can enforce these support obligations based on the mother's requests and the father's ability to pay, thus providing a legal avenue for unborn child support in Pennsylvania.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 1182 seems to be supportive from proponents who believe it ensures financial accountability for biological fathers even before the child is born. Supporters argue that this bill provides necessary protection and resources for expectant mothers, particularly those who may be facing financial uncertainty. However, there may be concerns regarding the implications for family dynamics and the legal complexities which could arise from establishing paternity before birth.

Contention

Notable points of contention include debates over the legal definitions involved in the bill, such as what measures could be taken to establish paternity without risking harm to the unborn child. Critics may voice concerns over the rights of biological fathers and the implications for those involved in artificial insemination scenarios, as the bill explicitly excludes fathers who have terminated parental rights for these purposes. These issues indicate that while the bill aims to protect mothers, it also raises significant legal and ethical considerations that would need to be addressed to ensure fairness.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2190

In support matters generally, providing for support of unborn child.

PA HB1962

In support matters generally, further providing for assistance recipients to seek support, for cooperation required and for enforcement of cooperation requirements.

PA HB350

In proceedings prior to petition to adopt, further providing for hearing, for alternative procedure for relinquishment and for hearing; in support matters generally, further providing for paternity and for continuing jurisdiction over support orders; in general provisions relating to children and minors, repealing provisions relating to acknowledgment and claim of paternity; in jurisdiction, further providing for bases for jurisdiction over nonresident; enacting the Uniform Parentage Act; and providing for parent-child relationship for certain individuals, for voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, for genetic testing, for proceeding to adjudicate parentage, for assisted reproduction, for surrogacy agreements and for information about donors.

PA HB2506

In support matters generally, further providing for support guideline; and, in child custody, further providing for definitions, for award of custody and for presumption in cases concerning primary physical custody.

PA HB630

Providing for certified chiropractic assistants; in supportive personnel, further providing for supportive personnel; and making an editorial change.

PA SB395

In general powers and duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for child support requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

PA HB1961

Adding provisions relating to establishment of parent-child relationship for certain individuals; providing for voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, for registry of paternity, for genetic testing, for proceeding to adjudicate parentage, for assisted reproduction, for surrogacy agreements and for information about donors.

PA SB204

In actions, proceedings and other matters generally, providing for extreme risk protection orders.

PA HB2304

In provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; imposing penalties; and making an editorial change.

PA HB999

In authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder of law enforcement officer; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for the offense of arson and related offenses; in jurisdiction of appellate courts, further providing for direct appeals from courts of common pleas; in post-trial matters, further providing for postconviction DNA testing and for disposition and appeal; in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree; and, in execution procedure and method, repealing provisions relating to issuance of warrant.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.