SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A new Utah law will require biological fathers pay half of a woman’s out-of-pocket pregnancy costs. The bill’s sponsor has presented the measure as an effort to decrease the burden of pregnancy on women and increase responsibility for men who have children. Critics argue the legislation doesn’t do enough to adequately address maternal health care needs and could make abusive situations even more dangerous. Anti-abortion activists have lauded the bill saying it will protect the lives of unborn children by supporting women through their pregnancy. The legislation is not intended to lower the frequency of abortions but the bill sponsor says that could be a potential result.
