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HF 2456

Cost-of-living adjustments in maintenance or child support orders repealed, and conforming changes made.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brion Curran and 1 co-sponsor

Bill repeals automatic cost-of-living adjustments in child and spousal support orders, requiring court modification for payment increases instead of annual automatic raises.

Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Children and Families Finance and Policy
#children-custodyandsupport
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 2456

Legislative bill overview

HF 2456 would repeal automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) provisions in Minnesota child support and spousal maintenance orders. Currently, these adjustments allow support payments to increase annually without requiring court modification, typically tied to inflation indices. The bill also makes conforming changes to related statutes.

Why is this important

Child and spousal support directly affect the financial security of recipients (often custodial parents and former spouses) and the payment obligations of obligors. Removing automatic adjustments means support amounts could become increasingly inadequate during inflationary periods unless parties return to court for modifications—a process that requires time, legal resources, and agreement or litigation.

Potential points of contention

  • Impact on vulnerable populations: Recipients relying on support for basic needs may struggle if payments don't keep pace with cost-of-living increases, potentially affecting child welfare and economic stability
  • Court system burden: Eliminating automatic adjustments could increase litigation as obligors or obligees return to court more frequently to adjust orders, raising costs for families and the judicial system
  • Fairness and predictability: Automatic COLAs provide predictable income adjustments; removal shifts the burden onto recipients to initiate costly modifications, creating inequality based on ability to afford legal assistance

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

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