Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed a bill making fathers responsible for picking up the cost of child support from the moment of conception.
Kelly said the bill had “broad and sweeping implications” that would undercut voters’ decision in 2022 to reject a constitutional amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the state constitution.
“Kansans already made it very clear that they don’t want lawmakers involved in personal matters,” Kelly said in a statement.
“It’s time we listen to them. As I have said before, I refuse to sign legislation that goes against the will of the majority of Kansans who voted on August 2, 2022.”
The legislation, similar to an idea already proposed in Congress, would have required direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses to be added to state guidelines that courts must consider in awarding child support.
The amount of child support would be calculated from the date of conception plus interest.
Currently under Kansas law, the parental relationships are not established until there is a live birth.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Majority Leader Chris Croft and Speaker Pro Tem Blake Carpenter issued a joint statement, saying the governor’s veto failed women.
“Women facing an unexpected pregnancy need support long before the baby is born,” they said in their statement.
“Between doctor’s appointment copays, sonograms, and other costs, prenatal expenses can get very pricey for women to handle simply on their own,” they said.
“The governor’s veto of this bill has failed Kansas women by dismissing financial accountability for the father.”
Since the Legislature has already adjourned its regular session, it cannot override the veto.
Lawmakers could conceivably take up the bill at a special session the governor plans to call on taxes, but the legislation would have to start from the beginning of the process.
There had been concerns expressed about the legal implications of writing “fetal personhood” into law and whether it advanced attempts to limit abortion rights in Kansas.
Supporters said the bill only required judges to consider child support payments for pregnancy-related expenses.
They said the bill didn’t change any of the legal proceedings related to child support, only that it be considered by the court in those cases.
They said the bill didn’t change how paternity would be determined, saying there are already procedures for doing that.
They said there are already parts of Kansas law that recognize a fetus as life in cases of criminal proceedings, pointing to Alexa’s law in which someone can be convicted for any number of crimes against a fetus.
The Senate voted 25-12 to pass the bill. The legislation passed 82-38 in the House.
