New Kansas Law gives Child Support at Conception as well as other changes.
So what does this new child support law actually do?
Kansas House Bill 2062 (HB 2062), enacted in 2025, introduces significant changes to child support and tax regulations in the state, particularly concerning unborn children and pregnancy-related expenses.
Child Support from Conception: The bill mandates that child support obligations can commence from the date of conception. This support specifically covers direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses incurred by the mother. However, it explicitly excludes costs associated with elective abortions.
Income Tax Exemption: HB 2062 provides a personal income tax exemption of $2,320 for unborn children, applicable starting in the 2025 tax year. This exemption also extends to stillborn children, provided a certificate is filed.
Retirement Accounts and Child Support: The legislation allows courts to consider the value of retirement accounts when determining child support obligations. It authorizes payments from certain retirement accounts to cover child support arrearages and eliminates the exemption of pension and retirement funds from claims to fulfill child support obligations.
Legislative Journey: HB 2062 was introduced by the House Committee on Judiciary at the request of Representative L. Williams. Despite a veto from the governor, the Kansas Legislature overrode the veto, and the bill became law on April 10, 2025.
Who was in Support and Opposition to this new law?
Proponents: Kansas Family Voice and Kansans for Life, argue that the bill acknowledges the financial responsibilities associated with pregnancy and provides necessary support for expectant mothers.
Opponents: Organizations like the ACLU of Kansas and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes oppose the bill, expressing concerns that it may set a precedent for recognizing fetal personhood and could have implications for reproductive rights.
What are some potential problems with this new law?
Well there are a bunch of potential problems for calculating child support this way, here is a few that I can see coming up pretty commonly.
What's the potential Problem? Establishing paternity during pregnancy is difficult and often unreliable without invasive procedures like amniocentesis, which carry medical risks.
Consequence: Courts may be forced to assign financial responsibility before paternity is definitively established, potentially burdening the wrong individual.
What's the potential Problem? Recognizing a fetus as a child for support purposes could set a legal precedent that supports fetal personhood.
Consequence: This could be used to challenge reproductive rights, particularly abortion access and maternal medical decision-making.
What's the potential Problem? Calculating support retroactively from conception involves subjective and uncertain expenses (e.g., prenatal vitamins, lost income, emotional labor).
Consequence: Courts may struggle to determine fair and consistent payment amounts, leading to inconsistent rulings or legal gridlock.
What's the potential Problem? Some parents may be held financially responsible before they’re even aware of the pregnancy.
Consequence: This can result in sudden, unexpected debts, particularly affecting low-income individuals.
What's the potential Problem? To justify pregnancy-related expenses, pregnant individuals may need to disclose intimate medical details in court.
Consequence: This could infringe on medical privacy and deter some from seeking necessary prenatal care.
What's the potential Problem? Parents may have informal arrangements for pregnancy-related support that the law doesn’t recognize.
Consequence: The law may override these agreements, leading to legal disputes or strained relationships.
What's the potential Problem? A noncustodial parent fearing retroactive liability may disengage rather than cooperate.
Consequence: This could reduce voluntary financial and emotional support during pregnancy.