This bill changes how unmarried fathers establish legal rights to their children born outside of marriage. Instead of requiring a father to publicly acknowledge the child and formally adopt it, the new law automatically recognizes a father's parental status if he does any one of three things: takes the child into his household, contributes financially to the child's support, or helps supervise and care for the child. Once established, the father's relationship to the child is treated the same as if the child were born to a married couple, without needing to follow additional adoption procedures.
Signed by the Governor H.J. 552
Delivered to the Governor H.J. 528
Signed by the President S.J. 512
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 510
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 1. S.J. 472
Senate Deferred to another day S.J. 452
Judiciary Do Pass Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0.
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
Senate Referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 354
First Reading Senate S.J. 341
House of Representatives Do Pass Passed, YEAS 65, NAYS 5. H.J. 346
Judiciary Do Pass Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0.
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
House of Representatives Referred to House Judiciary H.J. 171
First Reading House H.J. 154
Prime sponsor · Rep
R
Dist. HD-013
Sue Lucas-Peterson
Prime sponsor · Sen
R
Dist. SD-013
Cosponsors
Do Pass
Judiciary — Do Pass
Do Pass
Judiciary — Do Pass