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Senate reopens, amends and approves House Bill 113 on shared pregnancy medical costs
Summary
After a motion to reconsider, the Senate adopted an amendment narrowing paternal responsibility in third substitute House Bill 113 and approved the bill on a 22–0 roll call. The amendment makes a putative father responsible only for premiums not covered by an employer or government subsidy.
The Utah Senate reconsidered third substitute House Bill 113 and adopted an amendment that narrows who is financially responsible for pregnancy‑related medical premiums.
Senator Fillmore offered Amendment 1 to limit a putative father’s liability. “Rather than having the potential father be responsible for an entire health care premium, this amendment would just make the father responsible for the premium that is not paid by an employer or a government subsidy,” Fillmore said. The chamber voted to adopt the amendment and then proceeded to the bill.
Senator McKay, sponsor and floor proponent, said the bill’s primary purpose is “to create equity in paying for pregnancy costs and expenses for unwed [parents] and make sure there is a vehicle for women who have borne those costs to be able to recover those expenses,” explaining that the Office of Recovery Services would be used for enforcement. Following brief discussion, the Senate recorded a roll call resulting in 22 yeas, 0 nays, 7 absent; as amended, the bill will be returned to the House for further consideration.
The amendment changes the bill’s financial recovery mechanism by restricting recoverable premiums to amounts not covered by employer contributions or government subsidies, rather than imposing full premium liability. No additional procedural directions or implementation dates were specified on the floor.
The Senate placed the revised bill on the third‑reading calendar, adopted the amendment, and passed the bill by roll call. The House will receive the amended measure for its follow‑up action.
