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House committee rejects bill that would limit retroactive parentage liability
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Summary
A House Judiciary Committee motion to favorably recommend HB 208, a bill that would narrow retrospective child-support liability in certain parentage actions and allow some children to bring parentage claims to age 26, failed on a 4–6 roll call after sponsor testimony and committee questions.
Representative Watkins introduced House Bill 208, "Parentage Amendments," telling the committee a constituent’s case motivated the change: a man learned as an adult he was the father of a 15‑year‑old and faced potential child‑support exposure. The sponsor said the bill would align Utah with neighboring states by limiting how far back past‑support liabilities can be pursued in the chapter at issue and by allowing some children born on or after May 6, 2026, to bring parentage adjudication up to age 26.
"I wanted it to be 1," Representative Watkins said, describing the sponsor’s intent to reduce the four‑year retrospective liability in the cited chapter. The sponsor emphasized the change was not intended to alter parents’ rights to seek visitation or to eliminate existing declaration‑of‑paternity procedures.
Committee members asked for clarifications about which statutory chapter the four‑year limitation applies to and whether divorce‑related actions are treated differently. Representative Auxier raised concerns that families sometimes struggle for years before seeking assistance and asked whether shortening the look‑back period would relieve fathers of responsibility in cases where a custodial parent later needs help. Representative Watkins reiterated that the bill targets the specific chapter she described and does not remove remedies that protect children’s support or a father's rights to pursue court actions.
No public testimony was offered on HB 208. Representative Miller moved to favorably recommend the bill, but the committee voted by roll call and the motion failed 4–6. Representatives Clancy, Loubet, Miller and Abbott voted aye; the motion was defeated.
Next steps: the committee did not advance HB 208 to the full House; the sponsor said she would seek to clarify the four‑year language if members want to revisit the bill before it would reach the floor.
