Connecticut child-support guidelines hearing draws public criticism over clarity, enforcement and out-of-state orders

The State of Connecticut Commission for Child Support Guidelines convened a public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, to accept comments on proposed revisions to the child-support regulations. Commission members adopted minutes from the Sept. 11 meeting by voice vote before opening the hearing. The public-comment period remains open through Oct. 19, 2025.

Several attendees told the commission the guidelines and court processes lack transparency and consistent application. "First off, I was hoping we would get a little bit into what is actually going on with the child support guidelines here," said Henry Marto Cheel, a member of the public, who raised concerns about notice and due-process issues and said he planned to highlight the Family Justice and Accountability Act 2025. "We have 17 days, ladies and gentlemen, and you'll be learning about the Family Justice and Accountability Act," he said.

Anna Cambridge, a Hartford resident, said Connecticut failed to recognize an existing child-support or custody order from another state and then enforced child-support collection actions against her. "I already had a child support order from another state, and I tried to present that to the Connecticut state. And rather than being heard, I was ignored," Cambridge said. She described being subject to threats of license suspension and wage garnishment while asserting she had been denied access to her children after Connecticut modified a foreign custody decree.

Dennis Johnson described long-term financial harm and confusion about how guidelines apply following custody changes. "I lost everything I worked for my entire life, yet I still had to pay quite a lot of child support," he said, and urged the commission to increase transparency and allow deviations based on verifiable circumstances.

Maria McKinnon, who said she previously served on the commission, urged clearer regulation drafting and requested the commission add an explicit reference to Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-362b, the statute that provides for automatic payroll withholding unless a court finds withholding is not in a child's best interest. "I have yet to find a court that understands that this statute even exists," McKinnon said, and recommended moving the guideline schedule within the regulation text to reduce confusion and adding clearer language about deviation criteria, shared custody and imputation of income.

Speakers suggested several specific changes and clarifications for the proposed regulations: add an explicit reference to Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-362b regarding automatic wage withholding; clarify the definition and references for "dependency benefits" tied to Social Security; clarify how shared custody affects deviation determinations and whether those determinations should expressly consider the child's best interest; and provide a public-facing child-support calculator or tool so parents can estimate likely awards.

Commission staff and a meeting participant identified as Attorney McKeon told attendees how to submit written comments and noted the close of the public-comment period. "I should mention the close of the public comment period is actually October 19, so you have some time," Attorney McKeon said.

No regulatory votes or changes to the draft regulations were taken during the meeting; the only formal action recorded was the adoption of the Sept. 11 meeting minutes by voice vote. After a short recess to allow remote participants to connect, the commission concluded the meeting.

The commission accepted both oral and written comments on the proposed regulations. Written comments may be submitted through the e-regulation system or to the staff email address listed on the public notice for the proposed rulemaking. The commission did not set an effective date for any regulation changes during the session.

(Quotes above are taken from the public-comment period of the Oct. 2, 2025 meeting of the State of Connecticut Commission for Child Support Guidelines.)