Bill > HB218

This bill modifies several aspects of Maryland's child support and related enforcement laws. It extends the statute of limitations for initiating contempt proceedings for child or spousal support default from 3 to 7 years after the support installment originally became due. The bill introduces new provisions for handling child support in foster care situations, allowing the Administration more flexibility in assigning or discontinuing support rights. It expands the definition of "earnings" to include payments to independent contractors and clarifies reporting requirements for such contractors. The bill also creates a new mechanism for intercepting personal injury awards to satisfy child support arrears, establishing a process where paying agents must withhold a portion of such awards to apply to outstanding support obligations. Additionally, the bill modifies guidelines for child support calculations, including how a parent's income is adjusted for support of children in their home and alimony considerations. The legislation also updates provisions related to driver's license suspension for child support non-compliance, providing more nuanced criteria for suspension and reinstatement. These changes aim to improve child support enforcement, provide more flexibility for administrative agencies, and ensure more consistent support for children. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Justice

Judiciary (House)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0218?ys=2025RS