House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant amendments to child support laws in Montana, establishing that a father's financial obligation begins at conception. The bill mandates that courts award child support retroactively to the month of conception, as determined by a licensed healthcare provider, unless paternity is contested and the mother objects to genetic testing during pregnancy. In such cases, support can only be awarded after the child is born. The bill also stipulates that if a support order is established before the child's birth and the pregnancy terminates, the support obligation will end, with the mother required to notify the court.

Additionally, the bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to streamline the processes related to child support and paternity. It allows for the establishment of support obligations from the month of conception if paternity is established, and it clarifies that child support and medical support orders remain in effect until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. The bill emphasizes the importance of establishing paternity, allows for proceedings to commence before the child's birth, and outlines the procedures for administrative hearings. It also includes provisions for enforcing compliance with orders and penalties for contempt. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(1): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(2): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(3): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(4): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(5): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(6): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(7): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(8): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1(9): 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116
HB0288_1: 40-4-204, 40-5-225, 40-5-226, 40-5-232, 40-5-233, 40-6-107, 40-6-112, 40-6-116