AB 1643: Child support.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing federal law, Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, requires the state to establish a single state entity to administer the Title IV-D state plan for securing child support. Existing law designates the Department of Child Support Services as the state entity to administer laws and regulations related to child support enforcement obligations. Existing law requires that each county maintain a local child support agency that has numerous responsibilities relating to the establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support obligations.

Existing law authorizes the court, in any proceeding in which the court makes or has made a child support order, to direct that child support payments be made to a designated county officer or State Disbursement Unit, as specified, or to direct the local child support agency to appear on behalf of the minor children to enforce the order, or both.

This bill would instead require that all child support payments be directed to the State Disbursement Unit, and would authorize the court to direct the local child support agency to appear on behalf of the minor children to enforce the order. The bill would also require that every court order for payment of child support be deemed to be an application for child support enforcement services authorized pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, and would require the court to transmit a copy of the child support order and the contact information of the support obligor and support obligee to the local child support agency, as specified. The bill would authorize a support obligee to decline to receive or opt out of receiving the child support services described above unless otherwise required to receive those services under state or federal law. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt or modify forms to implement these provisions. To the extent these provisions increase the duties of local child support agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 14, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. May 14, 2026Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
3. May 13, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
4. April 28, 2026Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
5. April 27, 2026Read second time and amended.
6. April 23, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 23).
7. April 20, 2026Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
8. April 16, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
9. April 14, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
10. March 24, 2026In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
11. March 10, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (March 10). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
12. February 17, 2026Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S.