The bill, H.B. No. 175, amends the Texas Family Code to establish provisions for retroactive child support, allowing courts to order such support beginning from the date of a child's conception. The bill introduces new subsections to Section 154.131, which state that it is presumed reasonable and in the child's best interest for a court to order retroactive support from conception, based on medical evidence or other presented evidence. Additionally, the court may require the obligor to cover an equitable portion of prenatal and postnatal health care expenses for both the mother and child, and it mandates that the court confirm the total amount of retroactive support owed.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Section 160.636(g) to clarify that courts can order retroactive child support when establishing paternity or a support obligation, and it repeals Section 160.636(h). The changes apply only to orders and acknowledgments of paternity rendered or executed after the bill's effective date, ensuring that previous cases are governed by the law in effect at that time. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 154.131, Family Code 160.636 (Family Code 160, Family Code 154)