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  89R24536 AMF-D     By: Jones of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 557       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the enforcement of an order to pay child support by   contempt and the accrual of interest on certain child support   arrearages.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 157.162, Family Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:           (d)     The court may not find a respondent in contempt of court   for failure to pay child support if the respondent appears at the   hearing with:                 (1)  either:                       (A)     a copy of the payment record or other   evidence satisfactory to the court showing that the respondent is   current in the payment of child support as ordered by the court; or                       (B)     evidence satisfactory to the court that the   respondent has a plan for becoming current in the payment of child   support as ordered by the court; and                 (2)     evidence satisfactory to the court showing that   the respondent's failure to make timely payments was due to an error   made by a third party or other circumstances outside the   respondent's control.          SECTION 2.  Section 157.265, Family Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:           (g)     Notwithstanding Subsection (b), interest does not   accrue on child support arrearages that have been confirmed and   reduced to a money judgment if the court rendering the judgment   finds that the failure by a respondent to make timely payments   resulting in the arrearages was due to an error made by a third   party or other circumstances outside the respondent's control.            SECTION 3.  (a) Section 157.162(d), Family Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to a hearing to enforce an order in a suit   affecting the parent-child relationship that commences on or after   the effective date of this Act.  A hearing that commences before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the   date the hearing commenced, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          (b)  Section 157.265(g), Family Code, as added by this Act,   applies only to a money judgment for child support arrearages   rendered on or after the effective date of this Act.  A money   judgment for child support arrearages rendered before the effective   date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the   judgment was rendered, and the former law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.