🟢Relating to the modification of certain orders providing for the support of a child.

🟢 SB 1923: Child support follows the child, not the paperwork

What it says it does:
SB 1923 says child support should go to the person who is actually taking care of the child if the legal parent gives up care, goes to jail, or signs an agreement naming another caregiver.

What it actually changes:
It requires courts to redirect payments when a child has been with another adult for at least six months, when the parent is incarcerated for 90 days, or when an authorization agreement is signed with a nonparent caregiver. It also allows courts to send notice of these cases by email through the state’s e-filing system.

Who is pushing for it:
Support came from TexProtects, Texas CASA, Texans Care for Children, and Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division also weighed in.

Who benefits:
Grandparents, kinship caregivers, and children directly benefit because the support money now follows the child instead of staying with a parent who is not caring for them.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Parents who are no longer providing care lose access to support payments. Caregivers still must file a motion in court, so some may face delays if they do not have legal help.

Why this matters long term:
This closes a loophole that let money flow to the wrong household. It makes sure child support is tied to the child’s actual living situation and keeps the law more aligned with reality.

What to watch next:
Courts will need to process these motions quickly, and caregivers without lawyers may still face hurdles. Lawmakers may be asked to add faster hearings or easier filing forms.

Bottom line:
SB 1923 is a targeted fix. It helps kids and caregivers by making sure child support checks follow the child and not outdated paperwork.

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