NASHVILLE - Men can stop making child support payments if genetic testing proves they are not the child's biological father under legislation approved Thursday by the House.

House Bill 805, sponsored by Rep. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, passed on a 66-24 vote. Three lawmakers abstained.

Rep. Campfield, who has dubbed the measure the "baby daddy bill," said the issue is one of fairness. In court cases, he said, DNA testing has shown one out of four men listed as fathers on a birth certificate were actually not.

"I think this will help those people who did not realize they were deceived and are making child support payments for a child who's not their's," he said.

The legislation would not apply in cases where the man has legally adopted the child. Another provision says support payments must continue for 60 days after childhood is "disestablished."

During debate, Rep. Mark Maddox, D-Dresden, asked, "What about the child? Suddenly this woman - yes, she did wrong - is going to be left to fend for herself and that child. Maybe the real father can be found. Maybe not."

The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, and remains in the Judiciary Committee.

In other action Thursday:

n Senators voted to make sending or reading text messaging while driving a separate traffic offense punishable by a $50 fine.

Critics contended that Senate Bill 393 adds nothing to current laws banning distractions while driving.

The House is scheduled to take it up Monday.

The proposed law would apply only to drivers whose vehicles are in motion. In addition to the $50 fine, it provides for $10 in court costs. The offense would be treated legally as a non-moving violation, so it would not put points on drivers' records.

n County commissioners and city council members could discuss legislation via the Internet and not violate Tennessee's Open Meetings Act under a bill headed to the governor.

House members voted 91-0 and agreed to accept Senate changes to House Bill 533.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, expands a Knox County pilot project and allows local governing bodies, including school boards, to decide if they want to establish a computer "chat room" on a government Web site.

The site would let boards exchange messages and discuss pending matters without violating Tennessee's Open Meetings Act. The public would have to have access to the Web site, and the bill requires governing bodies provide computer access in libraries or government buildings.

The Open Meetings Act, also known as the "sunshine law," bans public officials from private or secret discussions or deliberations that result in decisions. The bill says officials could discuss but still could not "deliberate" toward a decision.

n House members voted 87-3 on legislation that requires the Tennessee Valley Authority or other entities to install liners in new or expanded coal-ash storage facilities.

The bill sponsor, Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, said in response to questions that it would not allow TVA or others to place a liner on existing facilities and then pile more coal ash on top.

Rep. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, questioned whether such liners would have prevented the massive coal ash spill at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant on Dec. 22.