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H 274

CHILD SUPPORT – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing laws to revise provisions regarding child support.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

House Bill 274 modernizes Idaho's child support laws, enhancing enforcement methods and ensuring children receive necessary financial and medical support from non-custodial parents.

Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
#childcare #children #courts #guardiansandconservators #parents #rules
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 274

Summary of House Bill 274 (H 274)

Bill Overview

  • Title: CHILD SUPPORT – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing laws to revise provisions regarding child support.
  • Bill Number: H 274
  • Introduced: February 19, 2025
  • Status: Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
  • Classification: Bill
  • Subject Areas: Child Care, Children, Courts, Guardians and Conservators, Parents, Rules

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 274 aims to revise and clarify existing laws related to child support in Idaho by transferring long-standing administrative rules into statutory law. The bill does not create new laws but consolidates and updates existing provisions to enhance the enforcement and management of child support obligations.

Key Provisions

The bill includes several significant amendments and additions to the Idaho Code, specifically:

  1. Remedies for Child Support Collection:

    • Expands the methods available for collecting overdue child support, including intercepting tax refunds, unemployment benefits, and veteran's benefits.
    • Allows for the deduction of legal costs incurred by the Department of Health and Welfare (up to 20% of any collection).

  2. Notification to Consumer Reporting Agencies:

    • Mandates that the Department of Health and Welfare notify consumer reporting agencies when a non-custodial parent owes more than $2,000 in overdue support and is at least three months in arrears.

  3. Judicial Proceedings for Income Withholding:

    • Clarifies the process for initiating income withholding orders, including the necessary documentation and the responsibilities of employers in remitting withheld amounts.

  4. Enforcement of Medical Support:

    • Establishes new provisions for the enforcement of medical support obligations, ensuring that health care costs for children are addressed alongside financial support.

  5. Review and Modification of Support Orders:

    • Introduces a new section for the review and modification of support orders, allowing for adjustments based on changing circumstances.

  6. Repeal of Certain Administrative Rules:

    • Repeals specific provisions regarding the authority of the Department to promulgate rules, streamlining the enforcement process.

Fiscal Impact

The bill is projected to result in savings of approximately $61 per page by ceasing the publication of certain administrative rules, with no additional expenditures or revenue implications for federal, state, or local governments.

Affected Parties

  • Parents: Non-custodial parents may face stricter enforcement measures for overdue support.
  • Children: The bill aims to ensure that children receive the financial support they need.
  • Department of Health and Welfare: The department will have enhanced authority and responsibilities in enforcing child support obligations.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was introduced and referred to the Health & Welfare Committee on February 19, 2025.
  • It has been reported printed and is currently under consideration by the committee.

Conclusion

House Bill 274 seeks to modernize and clarify Idaho's child support laws, enhancing the mechanisms for enforcement and ensuring that children receive necessary support. By consolidating rules into statute, the bill aims to streamline processes and improve the effectiveness of child support enforcement in the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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