Senate Bill

The Senate passed a bill by a vote of 44 to 2 that would increase Maryland Child Support Guidelines for the first time in more than two decades, increase the matrix from a combined gross income of $10,000 to $30,000, effective October 1, 2010, and permit recalculation of past child support awards if the new law would make a substantial difference in payments.

House Bill

On Saturday, the House voted 114 to 25 to pass its own revision to the guidelines.  The differences are that the combine gross income is capped at $15,000, the changes would not take effect until October 1 of 2011 and the new guidelines by themselves would not be a reason to recalculate past child support.

The bills will now go to conference to reconcile these differences.