Bill > SB195

This bill makes several key changes to Maryland's child support and family law regulations. It extends the statute of limitations for filing contempt proceedings for child or spousal support default from 3 to 7 years from the date each 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, specifically those reported on IRS Form 1099. The bill also creates a new mechanism for intercepting personal injury awards to pay child support arrears, establishing a lien process that allows the Child Support Administration to withhold a portion of such awards. Additionally, the bill modifies rules around driver's license suspension for child support non-compliance, including adjusting the timeframes for suspension and providing more detailed procedures for challenging such suspensions. The legislation also makes technical changes to definitions related to child support enforcement, such as clarifying terms like "employee," "employer," and "independent contractor." The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and aims to improve child support collection and enforcement mechanisms in Maryland.

Justice

Judicial Proceedings (S)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0195?ys=2025RS