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SB 18 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Child support, retroactivity provided for in certain circumstances

SB 18 amends Alabama law concerning child support and paternity proceedings. The bill clarifies that courts may direct fathers to pay for the mother's reasonable pregnancy and confinement expenses, as well as the father's portion of the mother's reasonable expenses incurred in preparation for the child's birth. It also updates provisions regarding the assessment and payment of court fees, attorney's fees, and genetic testing costs in paternity cases, allowing for payment from a state fund in certain circumstances. Additionally, the bill mandates that courts immediately determine support payments, including medical support, once paternity is established.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires fathers to cover pregnancy/confinement expenses, ensuring maternal healthcare access during pregnancy and childbirth.70% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 19, 2024 Last action Apr 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 4, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was updated from its original introduction to its final engrossed version, incorporating substantive changes to child support retroactivity rules and formatting updates throughout the document. The most significant policy change is the addition of a new provision clarifying that child support orders cannot be established if the child is not born alive, which was not explicitly stated in the original version. The bill also reorganized the text structure and updated page headers to reflect its final legislative status.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on child support retroactivity and paternity proceedings, but the addition of the 'child not born alive' provision creates a new eligibility limitation that was not present in the original version.
ELIGIBILITY

Added new provision stating that child support orders cannot be authorized if the child is not born alive

REQUIREMENT

Changed retroactivity language from 'shall be retroactive' to 'may be retroactive' to give courts discretion

TECHNICAL

Updated document formatting, page headers, and bill numbering from introduced to engrossed version

Reorganized subsection numbering and formatting of fee assessment provisions for clarity

TIMELINE

Confirmed effective date of October 1, 2025 in the final version

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House (Judiciary)
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Introduced
Judiciary 1st Amendment (Judiciary)
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 257
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Coleman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 256
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Coleman 2nd Amendment Offered
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Coleman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 255
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Coleman 1st Amendment Offered
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Judiciary)
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.