S.B. No. 1403 aims to improve the administration and enforcement of child support by the Title IV-D agency in Texas. The bill introduces several key amendments, including provisions that exempt the agency from mediation or arbitration clauses in child support orders it was not a party to, and allows the agency to halt enforcement against obligors if the obligee is incarcerated for family violence against a child covered by the order. It also establishes new procedures for adjusting support obligations during an obligor's incarceration, ensuring adjustments are based on the obligor's net resources and that proper notice is provided to affected parties. Furthermore, the bill expands the agency's authority to file investigation reports that support administrative adjustments, which can be admitted as evidence without further authentication, and clarifies that agency attorneys can represent it in court without prior notice to involved parties.

Additionally, the bill mandates that all Title IV-D brochures be made available online and at courthouses to enhance public access to child support information. It specifies that any legal suits or administrative adjustments related to support obligations filed before the effective date of the Act will continue to be governed by the laws in effect at that time, with changes to certain sections of the Family Code applying only to actions taken after the effective date. The Title IV-D agency is required to ensure that all brochures are accessible on its website by December 1, 2025, and the bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 201.1045, Family Code 231.002, Family Code 231.016, Family Code 231.1015, Family Code 231.1016, Family Code 231.104, Family Code 231.109, Family Code 231.118, Family Code 231.121, Family Code 231.302, Family Code 232.006, Family Code 233.006, Family Code 233.007, Family Code 233.0155, Family Code 234.012 (Family Code 201, Family Code 234, Family Code 231, Family Code 232, Family Code 233)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 201.1045, Family Code 231.002, Family Code 231.016, Family Code 231.1015, Family Code 231.1016, Family Code 231.104, Family Code 231.109, Family Code 231.118, Family Code 231.121, Family Code 231.302, Family Code 232.006, Family Code 233.006, Family Code 233.007, Family Code 233.0155, Family Code 234.012 (Family Code 201, Family Code 234, Family Code 231, Family Code 232, Family Code 233)
Engrossed: Family Code 201.1045, Family Code 231.002, Family Code 231.016, Family Code 231.1015, Family Code 231.1016, Family Code 231.104, Family Code 231.109, Family Code 231.118, Family Code 231.121, Family Code 231.302, Family Code 232.006, Family Code 233.006, Family Code 233.007, Family Code 233.0155, Family Code 234.012 (Family Code 201, Family Code 234, Family Code 231, Family Code 232, Family Code 233)
House Committee Report: Family Code 201.1045, Family Code 231.002, Family Code 231.016, Family Code 231.1015, Family Code 231.1016, Family Code 231.104, Family Code 231.109, Family Code 231.118, Family Code 231.121, Family Code 231.302, Family Code 232.006, Family Code 233.006, Family Code 233.007, Family Code 233.0155, Family Code 234.012 (Family Code 201, Family Code 234, Family Code 231, Family Code 232, Family Code 233)
Enrolled: Family Code 201.1045, Family Code 231.002, Family Code 231.016, Family Code 231.1015, Family Code 231.1016, Family Code 231.104, Family Code 231.109, Family Code 231.118, Family Code 231.121, Family Code 231.302, Family Code 232.006, Family Code 233.006, Family Code 233.007, Family Code 233.0155, Family Code 234.012 (Family Code 201, Family Code 234, Family Code 231, Family Code 232, Family Code 233)