WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule on October 28, 2026, rescinding multiple Child Support Enforcement regulations.

The rule removes and reserves section 301.0 regarding scope and applicability and section 301.10 regarding State plan descriptions. It amends regulations in sections covering State Plan Approval and Grant Procedures, State Plan Requirements, Standards for Program Operations, Federal Financial Participation, Program Performance Measures, Standards, Financial Incentives, and Penalties, Computerized Support Enforcement Systems, Annual State Self-Assessment Review and Report, Tribal Child Support Enforcement (IV-D) Program, and Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation.

The Department will retain sections 302.32, 302.33, 302.38, and 304.20 to preserve clarity. The agency stated that retaining regulations that restate statutory text or provide historical information is no longer necessary because the program has matured and Congress has codified core requirements directly in statute.

The agency received 31 comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, twelve of which were from State child support agencies. The rule was published on October 29, 2026, and is effective 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. It applies nationwide in the United States.