Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB288: Recognize obligation of fatherhood and provide for child support during pregnancy
Status: Chaptered, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act recognizing that a father's obligation to support a child begins at conception and providing for financial support during pregnancy; providing that a mother may object to paternity genetic testing during pregnancy; amending sections 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, and 40-6116, mca; and providing an effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT RECOGNIZING THAT A FATHER'S OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT A CHILD BEGINS AT CONCEPTION AND PROVIDING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT DURING PREGNANCY; PROVIDING THAT A MOTHER MAY OBJECT TO PATERNITY GENETIC TESTING DURING PREGNANCY; AMENDING SECTIONS 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, AND 40-6116, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." WHEREAS, there are expenses and financial impacts associated with pregnancy that start at conception; and WHEREAS, both the father and mother of a child should reasonably participate in the financial responsibilities, starting at conception. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Section 40-4-204, MCA, is amended to read: "40-4-204. Child support -- orders to address health insurance -- withholding of child support. (1) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, maintenance, or child support, the court shall order either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child to pay an amount reasonable or necessary for the child's support, without regard to marital misconduct. (2) The court shall consider all relevant factors, (b) the financial resources of the parents; (c) the standard of living that the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved; - 1 - Authorized Print Version - HB **** 69th Legislature 2025 HB 288.1 (d) the physical and …
Sponsors
- Sprunger, Courtenay (R, 7) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Subjects: Courts, Family Law
Common questions
- What is HB288?
- HB288 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Recognize obligation of fatherhood and provide for child support during pregnancy.
- What does HB288 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act recognizing that a father's obligation to support a child begins at conception and providing for financial support during pregnancy; providing that a mother may object to paternity genetic testing during pregnancy; amending sections 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, and 40-6116, mca; and providing an effective date.".
- What is the status of HB288?
- Chaptered as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB288?
- Sprunger, Courtenay (R, 7).
- Where is the official record for HB288?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1660
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.