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Committee discusses retroactive child support up to nine months; votes to give favorable report
Summary
The committee debated SP47, which would permit child support orders entered within one year after a birth to be retroactive up to nine months before birth; members clarified the provision is discretionary and discussed whether retroactive amounts would accrue interest.
The Judiciary Committee considered SP47, a bill described by Representative Tillman (standing in for Senator Coleman) that would allow child support orders entered within the first year after a child’s live birth to be made retroactive up to nine months prior to the birth.
"This bill will require child support orders entered within the first year after the live birth of a child to be retroactive to 9 months prior to the child being born, and it's a May and not a shall," Representative Tillman told the committee, using "may" language to indicate discretion rather than mandatory retroactivity.
Members pressed on practical consequences. Representative Wadsworth and others asked whether interest would be applied to retroactive amounts; committee discussion indicated that once a judgment issues, interest accrues at the judgment rate and retroactive amounts would begin accruing interest at that point. Members also raised concerns about parents who do not know they are pregnant in early months and the fairness of extending retroactive obligations into periods before they were aware of the pregnancy.
After discussion the committee moved and recorded a favorable report on the bill; the transcript records voice assent rather than a roll‑call tally.
