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H4045 • 2025

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support

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The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 4045) of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to improvements to the child support system.
  • The Judiciary.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-20 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-06-05 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  4. 2025-04-24 Senate

    Senate concurred

  5. 2025-04-22 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  6. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support
By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4045) of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to improvements to the child support system. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.4045

(a) There shall be established a special commission, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, to study child support and recommend any improvements to the child support system in the commonwealth.

(b) The special commission shall be comprised of the following members: the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities or their designees; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Bar Association, who shall have experience in family law and child support matters; 1 member appointed by the chief justice of the probate and family court; and the commissioner of the department of revenue or their designee, whom shall be from the department of revenue.

(c) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) analysis on the economic implications of child support on families in the commonwealth; (ii) analysis on the economic implications of nonpayment of child support; (iii) analysis of child support collections and unpaid child support; (iv) a review of all enforcement mechanisms and the impact of such mechanisms on lower socio-economic families and families with incarcerated obligors; (v) comprehensive data gathered on child support to inform policy recommendations; and (vi) any recommendations on changes to child support in the commonwealth.

(d) The commission shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study, along with any recommendations and any proposed standards and legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations. The report shall be submitted to the: (i) joint committee on the judiciary; (ii) joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; and (iii) clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than December 31, 2026.

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