By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 629

(In the Senate - Filed December 17, 2024; February 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; April 30, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 1; April 30, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 629 By: Hughes

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the accrual of interest on overdue child support.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 157.265, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 157.265. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST ON CHILD SUPPORT. (a) Interest accrues on the portion of delinquent child support that is greater than the amount of the monthly periodic support obligation at the rate of three [six] percent simple interest per year from the date the support is delinquent until the date the support is paid or the arrearages are confirmed and reduced to money judgment.

(b) Interest accrues on child support arrearages that have been confirmed and reduced to money judgment as provided in this subchapter at the rate of three [six] percent simple interest per year from the date the order is rendered until the date the judgment is paid.

(c) Interest accrues on a money judgment for retroactive or lump-sum child support at the annual rate of three [six] percent simple interest from the date the order is rendered until the judgment is paid.

(d) Subsection (a) applies to a child support payment that becomes due on or after January 1, 2026 [2002].

(e) Child support arrearages in existence on January 1, 2026 [2002], that were not confirmed and reduced to a money judgment on or before that date accrue interest as follows:

(1) before January 1, 2026 [2002], the arrearages are subject to the interest rate that applied to the arrearages before that date; and

(2) on and after January 1, 2026 [2002], the cumulative total of arrearages and interest accumulated on those arrearages described by Subdivision (1) is subject to Subsection (a).

(f) Subsections (b) and (c) apply to a money judgment for child support rendered on or after January 1, 2026 [2002]. A money judgment for child support rendered before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the judgment was rendered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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