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HF511 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

Children
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
WILLS
Last action
2025-02-20
Official status
Introduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 376 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-20 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 376 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to a father’s obligation for payment of expenses including those related to a mother’s pregnancy and the birth of a child born out of wedlock.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
House

File

511

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

511

BY

WILLS

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

relating

to

a

father’s

obligation

for

payment

of

1

expenses

including

those

related

to

a

mother’s

pregnancy

and

2

the

birth

of

a

child

born

out

of

wedlock.

3

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

4

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511

Section

1.

Section

252A.6A,

subsection

1,

paragraph

a,

Code

1

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

2

a.

Except

with

the

consent

of

all

parties,

the

trial

shall

3

not

be

held

until

after

the

birth

of

the

child

and

shall

be

held

4

no

earlier

than

twenty

days

from

the

date

the

respondent

is

5

served

with

notice

of

the

action

or,

if

.

Any

blood

or

genetic

6

tests

of

the

child,

mother,

or

alleged

father

shall

not

be

7

conducted

until

after

the

child’s

birth.

If

blood

or

genetic

8

tests

are

conducted,

the

trial

shall

be

held

no

earlier

than

9

thirty

days

from

the

date

the

test

results

are

filed

with

the

10

clerk

of

the

district

court

as

provided

under

section

600B.41

.

11

Sec.

2.

Section

600B.1,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

12

follows:

13

600B.1

Obligation

of

parents.

14

The

parents

of

a

child

born

out

of

wedlock

and

not

15

legitimized

(in

this

chapter

referred

to

as

“the

child”)

owe

16

the

child

necessary

maintenance,

education,

and

support.

They

17

The

parents

are

also

liable

for

the

child’s

funeral

expenses.

18

The

father

is

also

liable

to

pay

the

expense

expenses

of

the

19

mother’s

pregnancy

and

confinement

the

child’s

birth

.

20

Sec.

3.

Section

600B.4,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

21

follows:

22

600B.4

Recovery

by

others

than

mother.

23

The

obligation

of

the

father

as

hereby

provided

also

creates

24

also

a

cause

of

action

on

behalf

of

the

legal

representative

of

25

the

mother,

or

on

behalf

of

third

persons

furnishing

support

26

or

defraying

the

reasonable

expenses

thereof

of

support

,

where

27

paternity

has

been

judicially

established

by

proceedings

28

brought

by

the

mother

or

by

or

on

behalf

of

the

child

or

by

29

the

authorities

charged

with

its

the

child’s

support,

or

where

30

paternity

has

been

acknowledged

by

the

father

in

writing

or

by

31

the

part

performance

of

the

obligations

imposed

upon

him

the

32

father

.

33

Sec.

4.

Section

600B.6,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

34

follows:

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600B.6

Liability

of

the

father’s

estate.

1

The

obligation

of

the

father,

when

his

paternity

has

2

been

judicially

established

in

his

lifetime

,

or

has

been

3

acknowledged

by

him

in

writing

or

by

the

part

performance

of

4

his

obligations,

is

enforceable

against

his

the

father’s

estate

5

in

such

an

amount

as

the

court

may

determine

determined

by

the

6

court

,

having

regard

to

considering

the

age

of

the

child,

the

7

ability

of

the

mother

to

support

it

the

child

,

the

amount

of

8

property

left

by

the

father,

the

number,

age,

and

financial

9

condition

of

the

lawful

issue,

if

any,

and

the

rights

of

the

10

widow,

if

any.

The

court

may

direct

the

discharge

of

the

11

obligation

by

periodical

payments

or

by

the

payment

of

a

lump

12

sum.

13

Sec.

5.

Section

600B.7,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

14

follows:

15

600B.7

Proceedings

to

establish

paternity.

16

Proceedings

to

establish

paternity

and

to

compel

support

by

17

the

father

may

be

brought

in

accordance

with

the

provisions

of

18

this

chapter

.

They

The

proceedings

shall

not

be

exclusive

of

19

other

proceedings

that

may

be

available

on

principles

of

law

20

and

equity.

21

Sec.

6.

Section

600B.8,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

22

follows:

23

600B.8

Who

may

institute

proceedings.

24

The

proceedings

may

be

brought

by

the

mother,

or

other

25

interested

person,

or

if

the

child

is

or

is

likely

to

be

a

26

public

charge,

by

the

authorities

charged

with

its

the

child’s

27

support.

After

the

death

of

the

mother

or

in

In

the

case

of

her

28

the

mother’s

death

or

disability,

it

the

proceedings

may

also

29

be

brought

by

the

child

acting

through

its

the

child’s

guardian

30

or

next

friend.

31

Sec.

7.

Section

600B.9,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

32

follows:

33

600B.9

Time

of

instituting

proceedings.

34

The

proceedings

may

be

instituted

during

the

pregnancy

of

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511

the

mother

or

after

the

birth

of

the

child,

but,

except

with

1

the

consent

of

all

parties,

the

trial

shall

not

be

held

until

2

after

the

birth

of

the

child

and

shall

be

held

no

earlier

than

3

twenty

days

from

the

date

the

alleged

father

is

served

with

4

notice

of

the

action

or,

if

.

Any

blood

or

genetic

tests

of

5

the

child,

mother,

or

alleged

father

shall

not

be

conducted

6

until

after

the

child’s

birth.

If

blood

or

genetic

tests

are

7

conducted,

the

trial

shall

be

held

no

earlier

than

thirty

days

8

from

the

date

the

test

results

are

filed

with

the

clerk

of

the

9

district

court

as

provided

under

section

600B.41

.

10

Sec.

8.

Section

600B.13,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

11

follows:

12

600B.13

Form

of

complaint

——

verification.

13

The

complaint

may

be

made

in

writing,

or

oral

orally

and

14

in

the

presence

of

the

complainant

reduced

to

writing

by

the

15

prosecuting

attorney.

It

The

complaint

shall

be

verified

by

16

oath

or

affirmation

of

the

complainant.

17

Sec.

9.

Section

600B.16,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

18

follows:

19

600B.16

Lis

pendens.

20

From

the

time

of

the

filing

of

such

a

complaint,

a

lien

shall

21

be

created

upon

the

real

property

of

the

accused

defendant

in

22

the

county

where

the

action

is

pending

for

the

payment

of

any

23

money

and

the

performance

of

any

order

adjudged

by

the

proper

24

court.

25

Sec.

10.

Section

600B.17,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

26

follows:

27

600B.17

Writ

of

attachment.

28

The

district

court

may

order

an

attachment

to

issue

thereon

29

upon

the

real

property

of

the

defendant

without

bond

,

which

.

30

The

order

shall

specify

the

amount

of

property

to

be

seized

31

thereunder

,

and

may

be

revoked

at

any

time

by

such

the

court

on

32

a

showing

made

for

a

revocation

of

the

same

order

,

and

on

such

33

terms

as

such

the

court

may

deem

proper

in

the

premises.

34

Sec.

11.

Section

600B.19,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

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follows:

1

600B.19

County

attorney

to

prosecute.

2

The

county

attorney,

on

upon

being

notified

of

the

facts

3

justifying

a

complaint

as

provided

in

this

chapter

,

or

of

the

4

filing

of

such

a

complaint,

shall

prosecute

the

matter

in

on

5

behalf

of

the

complainant.

6

Sec.

12.

Section

600B.21,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

7

follows:

8

600B.21

Death,

absence

or

mental

illness

,

or

absence

of

9

mother

——

testimony

receivable.

10

If

after

the

complaint

is

filed

the

mother

dies

or

becomes

11

mentally

ill

,

is

diagnosed

with

a

mental

illness,

or

cannot

be

12

found

within

the

jurisdiction,

the

proceeding

does

not

abate,

13

but

the

child

shall

be

substituted

as

the

complainant.

The

14

testimony

of

the

mother

taken

by

deposition

as

in

other

civil

15

cases

,

may

in

any

such

case

be

read

as

evidence

and

in

all

cases

16

such

testimony

shall

be

read

as

evidence

if

demanded

by

the

17

defendant.

18

Sec.

13.

Section

600B.22,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

19

follows:

20

600B.22

Death

of

defendant.

21

In

case

of

the

death

of

the

defendant

,

the

action

may

be

22

prosecuted

against

the

personal

representative

of

the

deceased

23

with

like

effects

as

if

the

defendant

were

living,

subject

as

24

regards

to

the

measure

amount

of

support

to

the

provision

of

25

determined

by

the

court

under

section

600B.6

.

26

Sec.

14.

Section

600B.25,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

27

follows:

28

600B.25

Form

of

judgment

——

contents

of

support

order

——

29

medical

support

——

uncovered

medical

expenses

——

other

expenses

30

related

to

pregnancy

and

birth

——

evidence

——

costs.

31

1.

Upon

a

finding

of

paternity

pursuant

to

section

600B.24

,

32

the

all

of

the

following

shall

apply:

33

a.

The

court

shall

establish

the

father’s

monthly

child

34

support

payment

and

the

amount

of

the

support

debt

accrued

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or

accruing

pursuant

to

section

598.21B

,

and

shall

establish

1

medical

support

pursuant

to

chapter

252E

.

The

child

support

2

obligation

shall

include

support

of

the

child

between

the

3

ages

of

eighteen

and

nineteen

years

if

the

child

is

engaged

4

full-time

in

completing

high

school

graduation

or

equivalency

5

requirements

in

a

manner

which

is

reasonably

expected

to

result

6

in

completion

of

the

requirements

prior

to

the

person

reaching

7

nineteen

years

of

age.

8

b.

The

court

may

order

the

father

to

pay

amounts

the

court

9

deems

appropriate

for

the

past

support

and

maintenance

of

the

10

child

and

for

the

reasonable

and

necessary

uncovered

medical

11

expenses

incurred

by

or

for

the

mother

in

connection

with

12

prenatal

care,

the

mother’s

pregnancy

and

the

birth

of

the

13

child

,

and

postnatal

care

of

the

child

and

the

mother,

and

14

other

medical

support

as

defined

in

section

252E.1

.

Absent

15

good

cause

or

agreement

of

the

parties,

any

amount

the

court

16

orders

the

father

to

pay

toward

uncovered

medical

expenses

17

related

to

the

mother’s

pregnancy

and

the

birth

of

the

child

18

shall

be

established

in

proportion

to

each

parent’s

respective

19

net

income

as

calculated

under

the

child

support

guidelines

20

established

pursuant

to

section

598.21B,

and

shall

take

into

21

account

any

amount

the

father

previously

paid

toward

such

22

uncovered

medical

expenses.

23

c.

The

court

may

order

the

father

to

pay

a

separate

amount

24

toward

any

other

reasonable

and

necessary

expenses

incurred

by

25

the

mother

related

to

the

mother’s

pregnancy

prior

to

the

birth

26

of

the

child,

and

incurred

by

the

mother

to

provide

essential

27

items

for

the

health,

well-being,

and

safety

of

the

newborn.

28

d.

The

court

may

award

the

prevailing

party

the

reasonable

29

costs

of

suit,

including

but

not

limited

to

reasonable

attorney

30

fees.

31

2.

A

copy

of

a

bill

for

the

costs

of

prenatal

care

or

32

uncovered

medical

expenses

incurred

by

or

for

the

mother

33

in

connection

with

the

mother’s

pregnancy

and

the

birth

of

34

the

child

shall

be

admitted

as

evidence,

without

requiring

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third-party

foundation

testimony,

and

shall

constitute

prima

1

facie

evidence

of

amounts

incurred.

2

Sec.

15.

Section

600B.39,

Code

2025,

is

amended

to

read

as

3

follows:

4

600B.39

“Child”

defined.

5

For

the

purposes

of

this

chapter

,

“child”

means

a

person

born

6

out

of

wedlock

and

not

legitimized

who

is

less

than

eighteen

7

years

of

age.

8

Sec.

16.

Section

600B.41,

subsection

1,

Code

2025,

is

9

amended

to

read

as

follows:

10

1.

In

a

proceeding

to

establish

paternity

in

law

or

in

11

equity

the

court

may

on

its

own

motion,

and

upon

request

of

12

a

party

shall,

require

the

child,

mother,

and

alleged

father

13

to

submit

to

blood

or

genetic

tests,

except

that

if

the

mother

14

and

child

previously

submitted

blood

or

genetic

specimens

in

a

15

prior

action

to

establish

paternity

against

a

different

alleged

16

father,

the

previously

submitted

specimens

and

prior

results,

17

if

available,

may

be

utilized

for

testing

in

this

action.

Any

18

blood

or

genetic

tests

of

the

child,

mother,

or

alleged

father

19

shall

not

be

conducted

until

after

the

child’s

birth.

20

EXPLANATION

21

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

22

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

23

This

bill

relates

to

the

obligation

of

parents

of

a

child

24

born

out

of

wedlock

for

support.

25

The

bill

amends

Code

chapter

600B

(paternity

and

obligation

26

for

support)

to

provide

that

the

court

shall

establish

medical

27

support

pursuant

to

Code

chapter

252E

(medical

support)

and

may

28

order

the

payment

of

the

reasonable

and

necessary

uncovered

29

medical

expenses

incurred

by

or

for

the

mother

in

connection

30

with

the

mother’s

pregnancy

and

the

birth

of

the

child.

The

31

bill

provides

that

absent

good

cause

or

agreement

of

the

32

parties,

any

amount

the

court

orders

the

father

to

pay

toward

33

uncovered

medical

expenses

related

to

the

mother’s

pregnancy

34

and

the

birth

of

the

child

shall

be

established

in

proportion

35

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511

to

each

parent’s

respective

net

income

as

calculated

under

the

1

child

support

guidelines

established

pursuant

to

Code

section

2

598.21B

(orders

for

child

support

and

medical

support)

and

3

shall

take

into

account

any

amount

the

father

previously

paid

4

toward

such

expenses.

Additionally,

the

bill

provides

that

the

5

court

may

order

the

father

to

pay

a

separate

amount

toward

any

6

other

reasonable

and

necessary

expenses

incurred

by

the

mother

7

related

to

the

mother’s

pregnancy

prior

to

the

birth

of

the

8

child,

and

incurred

by

the

mother

to

provide

essential

items

9

for

the

health,

well-being,

and

safety

of

the

newborn.

10

Under

current

law,

upon

the

court’s

own

motion

or

upon

a

11

request

of

a

party,

the

court

shall

require

a

child,

mother,

12

and

alleged

father

to

submit

to

blood

or

genetic

tests

to

13

establish

paternity.

The

bill

provides

that

any

blood

or

14

genetic

tests

for

a

child,

mother,

or

alleged

father

shall

not

15

be

conducted

until

after

the

birth

of

the

child.

16

The

bill

makes

conforming

and

other

changes

in

Code

chapter

17

600B

consistent

with

the

bill.

18

-7-

LSB

1223YH

(4)

91

cm/jh

7/

7