HB 1973 — An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further providing for paternity; and, in general provisions relating to children and minors, further providing for blood tests to determine paternity.

PRINTER'S NO.     2491

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1973
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, KAUFFMAN AND RADER, OCTOBER 21, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, OCTOBER 21, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in support matters generally, further
 3      providing for paternity; and, in general provisions relating
 4      to children and minors, further providing for blood tests to
 5      determine paternity.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    Sections 4343(a) and 5104(g) of Title 23 of the
 9   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
10   § 4343.   Paternity.
11      (a)    Determination.--Where the paternity of a child [born]
12   conceived out of wedlock is disputed, the determination of
13   paternity shall be made by the court in a civil action without a
14   jury. A putative father may not be prohibited from initiating a
15   civil action to establish paternity. The burden of proof shall
16   be by a preponderance of the evidence. Bills for pregnancy,
17   childbirth, postnatal care related to the pregnancy and genetic
18   testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party
19   foundation testimony and shall constitute prima facie evidence
20   of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf
 1   of the child. If there is clear and convincing evidence of
 2   paternity on the basis of genetic tests or other evidence, the
 3   court shall upon motion of a party issue a temporary order of
 4   support pending the judicial resolution of a dispute regarding
 5   paternity. The Supreme Court shall provide by general rule for
 6   entry of a default order establishing paternity upon a showing
 7   of service of process on the defendant and a subsequent failure
 8   to appear for scheduled genetic testing.
 9      * * *
10   § 5104.    Blood tests to determine paternity.
11      * * *
12      (g)    Effect on presumption of legitimacy.--The presumption of
13   legitimacy of a child born during wedlock is overcome if the
14   court finds that [the conclusions of all the experts as
15   disclosed by the evidence based upon the tests show that the
16   husband is not the father of the child.]:
17             (1)   the conclusions of all the experts as disclosed by
18      the evidence based upon the tests show that the husband is
19      not the father of the child; or
20             (2)   the mother of the child was engaged in sexual
21      relations with a man other than her husband during the time
22      that the child was likely conceived.
23      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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