Idaho Legislature approves child-support bill that had been rejected over Islamic law concerns

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Legislature has approved federally mandated child support rules, undoing a rejection that had jeopardized U.S. involvement in an international treaty and threatened to collapse the state’s payment system.

The bill now goes to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, who has said he’ll sign it into law.

Idaho residents testified for several hours before a joint panel considering the measure in a special legislative session Monday.

Supporters characterized the bill as a simple rules update.

But opponents called it an unconstitutional overreach by federal authorities that could subject U.S. courts to rulings made elsewhere under Islamic law.

Much of the debate Monday focused on about $46 million in federal funds and payment processing systems tied to the legislation.

Idaho would have lost access to both if the rejection had stood.