SB 703 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Family Investment Program - Child Support

SB 703 requires that all child support payments received by families in Maryland’s Family Investment Program (FIP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) must be passed directly to the family and not counted when calculating their benefits. It amends state law to eliminate previous limits (like $100 for one child) and prohibits local agencies from considering any child support when determining FIP or SNAP assistance amounts. This change directly affects low-income families receiving FIP or SNAP who also receive child support payments. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Family Investment Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits - Child Support → Third - Family Investment Program - Child Support · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to phase in a requirement that all child support received by families must pass through to them rather than being counted as income. The original version required this immediately, but the amended version introduces a gradual timeline starting in fiscal year 2027, increasing the amount of child support that must pass through each year until full implementation in fiscal year 2031.

Scope change

The scope of the child support pass-through requirement changed from immediate full implementation to a phased approach over five fiscal years.

TIMELINE

The child support pass-through requirement is now phased in over five fiscal years (2027-2031) instead of taking effect immediately.

REQUIREMENT

The amount of child support that must pass through to families increases each year: starting with fixed dollar amounts in 2027, then shifting to percentages (25%, 50%, 75%) until reaching 100% in 2031.

New language was added to the bill title and purpose section to reflect the phased implementation approach.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2025

How they voted

42–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 46

Mar 20, 2025

D Democratic33

30 Yea 3

90% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Appropriations

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator Beidle) Adopted

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (42-0-4)

senate

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors