Relating to paternity and the obligation of parents for support of children

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 2025
2. ✓
   Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 2025
3. ✓
   Done: Senate committeeFebruary 12, 2025
4. ✕
   Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
6. Next: Passes the House
7. Next: To the Governor
8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill amends Code chapter 600B (paternity and obligation for support) to allow an alleged father of a child, the child’s mother, or the child to file a complaint to establish paternity of the child and an obligation for support of the child. if the child is or is likely to be a public charge, by the authorities charged with the child’s support. The bill makes conforming changes throughout the Code chapter to provide that the alleged father may also be the complainant or plaintiff. The bill includes an alleged father as a party that may request blood or genetic testing in a proceeding to establish paternity, and provides that a mother or alleged father requesting the testing shall file an affidavit with the court that alleges or denies paternity and contains facts that establish the reasonable possibility that there was, or was not, the requisite sexual contact between the mother and the alleged father.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

Senate subcommittee

Named January 14, 2026. On January 21, 2026 it recommended passage.

• Sen. Lynn Evans REmail
• Sen. Izaah Knox DEmail
• Sen. David D. Rowley REmail

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§600B.11§600B.13§600B.14§600B.16§600B.17§600B.21§600B.22§600B.24§600B.29§600B.36§600B.4§600B.41§600B.6§600B.8§600B.9

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

• SF 397 Relating to paternity and the obligation of parents for support of children
  90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · similar
  Cleared committee

Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.