Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HSB159

Introduced
2/11/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the suspension of child support and medical support in certain circumstances.

Impact

The implementation of HSB159 could significantly affect the obligations of parents who are required to pay child support and medical support. By facilitating the suspension of these payments when custody is granted to the obligated party, the bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on parents during transitions dictated by the juvenile justice system. This could lead to a more equitable consideration of parental responsibilities in situations where custody arrangements change abruptly, thus ensuring that support obligations align more closely with current living arrangements.

Summary

House Study Bill 159 seeks to address the process of suspending child support and medical support payments under specific circumstances. The bill allows a district court, upon the request of an individual obligated to pay support, to issue an ex parte order suspending these payments if legal custody of a child has been transferred to that individual. This modifies existing legislation under Iowa Code chapter 598 by establishing a more streamlined process for requesting and issuing support modifications, especially in cases involving custody changes governed by juvenile court orders.

Contention

Despite its intended benefits, HSB159 may face contention regarding the potential implications on the rights of the custodial parent owed support. Critics might argue that the ease of obtaining an ex parte suspension could undermine the financial stability of the party entitled to receive support, thereby impacting children negatively. Additionally, there may be concerns raised about the potential for misuse of the process, where a parent could leverage this law to evade support payments, prompting discussions on safeguarding measures and ensuring that the best interests of children remain paramount.

Companion Bills

IA SF542

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to the suspension of child support and medical support in certain circumstances. (Formerly SSB 1123.)

IA SSB1123

Related A bill for an act relating to the suspension of child support and medical support in certain circumstances.(See SF 542.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF2671

A bill for an act relating to aid, processes, services, and support staff for children in, adopted from, or in need of foster care, including the establishment of a legal representation for juvenile cases interim study committee, and making appropriations.(Formerly HF 2242.)

IA HF2382

A bill for an act relating to the treatment of veteran disability dependent benefits in the determination of a child support obligation.

IA HF2242

A bill for an act relating to aid, processes, services, and support staff for children in, adopted from, or in need of foster care, and making appropriations.(See HF 2671.)

IA HF2102

A bill for an act relating to replacement of the term visitation with the term parenting time relative to time awarded to a parent.(Formerly HSB 505.)

IA HSB505

A bill for an act relating to replacement of the term visitation with the term parenting time relative to time awarded to a parent.(See HF 2102.)

IA HF2509

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 653; See HF 2673.)

IA SSB3146

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 2354, SF 2420.)

IA HSB653

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 2509, HF 2673.)

IA HF2134

A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state.(Formerly HSB 513.)

IA HF2673

A bill for an act related to state behavioral health, disability, and addictive disorder services and related programs, including the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, the elimination of the commission on aging, the elimination of special intellectual disability units at state mental health institutes, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF 2509, HSB 653.) Effective date: 05/15/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.