April 16, 2025 — Austin, TX
April 16, 2025 — Austin, TX
The Texas Senate has passed a bill that could fundamentally change how child support is calculated in the state—shifting the financial obligation back to the date of conception.
Senate Bill 942, authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), was approved in a 27-4 vote on April 2 and is now under review in the Texas House of Representatives. The proposed law would allow courts to order retroactive child support beginning at conception, rather than at birth.
Currently, Texas law permits retroactive child support dating back only to a child’s birth or up to four years before a petition is filed—unless the parent is proven to have intentionally avoided responsibility. SB 942 would expand this significantly.
“The responsibility a mother bears doesn’t begin at birth—it begins months earlier,” said Sen. Hughes, according to KLTV.com. The bill would also require non-custodial parents to help cover prenatal and postnatal medical costs alongside standard support payments.
Supporters argue the change brings long-overdue fairness to custodial parents, particularly single mothers. “The obligation to support a child does not begin when the baby is born,” said attorney Anthony Robles, as reported by KLTV.com.
But not everyone is on board. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) questioned whether the legislation crosses philosophical boundaries, especially for those who believe personhood begins at birth. She also raised concerns about financial impacts on young men who may be unaware of a pregnancy. “Should parents start saving for child support when their sons become sexually active?” she asked, via KLTV.com.
If enacted, the law would apply to all child support orders issued on or after September 1, 2025. A companion measure, House Bill 1980, has been introduced by Rep. Hickland and is moving through the House.
SB 942 has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Family & Fiduciary Relationships as of April 9.