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HB1343 • 2025

Georgia's Responsible Fathers Act; enact

Georgia's Responsible Fathers Act; enact

Children Education Healthcare Parental Rights
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Barrett, Carter
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
House Second Readers
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is missing from the provided metadata and bill summary.

Georgia's Responsible Fathers Act

This bill changes the legal definition of a father, requires hospitals to provide education videos about legitimation, allows fathers to note genetic testing on birth certificates, and updates inheritance rules for children.

What This Bill Does

  • Revises the definition of 'legal father' in state laws regarding courts and domestic relations.
  • Requires licensed general hospitals and birthing centers to make a petition for legitimation education video available to parents or guardians of newborn infants.
  • Allows a putative father to indicate on a birth certificate that he has submitted to genetic testing to establish paternity for a child born out of wedlock.
  • Updates estate laws to provide for inheritance by legitimation in certain circumstances.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Licensed general hospitals and birthing centers
  • Parents or guardians of newborn infants
  • Putative fathers seeking to establish paternity
  • Children born out of wedlock who may inherit through legitimation

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not specify the exact date this law will take effect.
  • The specific details of how hospitals must provide the education video are not described in the summary provided.
  • The exact circumstances under which inheritance by legitimation applies are listed as 'certain' but not fully detailed here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 Georgia General Assembly

    House Second Readers

Official Summary Text

Georgia's Responsible Fathers Act; enact