A new bill has been passed in Utah ensuring that biological fathers pay for half of all pregnancy bills.
The bill, which has been named HB113, was designed to increase responsibility "for men in the bringing of life into the world."
Under the bill, biological fathers will not have to pay for abortions that they do not consent to, unless the mother's life is endangered by the pregnancy, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape.
"This seeks to be pro-life without being anti-abortion," said bill sponsor Representative Brady Brammer.
As per the Salt Lake Tribune, the new law was signed by Governor Spencer Cox on Tuesday, March 23, and was designed to be "pro-life" by giving expectant mothers the financial support they need to continue with their pregnancies.
The news outlet added that when it is is not clear who the biological father is, no monetary support will be required during the pregnancy, but afterward, once a DNA test is completed, they will be required to pay 50% of the bills.
Brammer and senator Daniel McCay sponsored the bill which was universally passed in the senate.
Democrats in the House, however, did oppose the bill on the grounds of concerns for expectant mothers who are in abusive relationships.
But Brammer explained to those who were concerned that the bill would function in a similar way to existing child support laws.
Per Deseret, concerns were also raised about how men may respond to the financial obligation, with a vaginal delivery in the US costing around $30,000 and a c-section around $50,000.
"If we're creating a new requirement that no other state has that a biological father be financially responsible for half the costs of health care for a woman during pregnancy, I'm worried that some men may respond to this financial obligation in a way that benefits them financially," Harrison said.
Democrat senator Luz Escamilla was one of those concerned, and she asked for clarification on how payments would be received from abusive partners.
She later voted in favor of the bill, saying that she was confident that it would "not open any doors for anything that could put a survivor of domestic violence in any fear."
In instances of domestic violence, the monetary support will be collected by the Office of Recovery Services to protect expectant mothers.
