Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 336 comprehensively updates Idaho’s child support enforcement laws by incorporating provisions previously handled through administrative rules into statute. It enhances enforcement mechanisms by enabling the Department of Health and Welfare to impose income withholding, garnishments, liens, and credit reporting against parents who fail to meet child support obligations. The bill outlines detailed procedures for withholding wages, reporting delinquencies to credit bureaus, and intercepting tax refunds.

It also mandates periodic reviews and possible modifications of child support orders every 36 months or upon significant life changes. Additionally, it repeals IDAPA Rule 16.03.03, replacing it with codified law to improve transparency and limit agency overreach. The bill includes due process protections, such as notice periods and hearing options, and takes effect July 1, 2025, under an emergency clause.

Reason for Rating:

House Bill 336 promotes the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s principles of personal responsibility, limited government, and legal accountability. It ensures that parents fulfill their obligations without creating new entitlements or expanding bureaucratic control. By replacing administrative rules with clearly defined statutory language, it limits unelected agency power and enhances legal transparency. The bill balances enforcement with due process, ensuring fairness while holding delinquent parents accountable. For these reasons, H0336 is appropriately rated at +1.