HB 1620 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning limitations in parenting plans.

HB 1620 updates the laws concerning limitations in parenting plans for minor children in Washington State. The bill specifies types of parental conduct that require a court to limit a parent's residential time with their child, such as willful abandonment, physical or emotional abuse, a history of domestic violence, or sexual assault. These limitations also apply if a parent knowingly resides with another person who has engaged in such conduct. The bill defines key terms like "abusive use of conflict" and "protective actions" to help guide court decisions in these matters.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Signed Apr 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly strengthens protections for children and victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse by updating how courts handle parenting plans. It introduces new definitions for 'abusive use of conflict' to address bad-faith litigation, clarifies that protective actions taken by abused parents cannot be used against them, and establishes strict presumptions against shared custody or decision-making when domestic violence or sexual abuse is found. The bill also tightens rules regarding parents living with convicted sex offenders and adds requirements for judicial training on trauma-informed practices.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of conduct that triggers automatic limitations on parenting time and decision-making, specifically adding 'abusive use of conflict' and clarifying rules for parents residing with sex offenders.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'abusive use of conflict' to cover repeated bad-faith violations of court orders, threats of harm, using a child in conflict, and abusive litigation.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the rules for determining domestic violence to clarify that the weight given to protection orders is within the court's discretion, while keeping the application of evidence rules.

Added explicit protections stating that an abused parent's safety measures (like reporting abuse or seeking restraining orders) cannot be used as evidence against them in custody cases.

Modified the requirements for parents convicted of sex offenses against children, creating a rebuttable presumption that they pose a present danger and restricting contact unless specific safety conditions are met.

Added new requirements for judicial officers to complete trauma-informed resolution training within 12 months of appointment and every three years thereafter.

Modified the rules for supervised visitation to allow layperson supervision if professional supervision is inaccessible due to geographic isolation or financial hardship.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the criteria for limiting residential time to include living with someone who has engaged in willful abandonment, abuse, domestic violence, assault causing grievous bodily harm, or sexual abuse.

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 7 edits · Apr 18, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence and child abuse in family law cases by establishing mandatory limitations on parenting plans, decision-making authority, and dispute resolution processes. It requires courts to prioritize the safety of abused parents and children, prohibits abusive parents from forcing mediation or joint decision-making, and imposes strict rules regarding contact with sexually violent predators. The changes also introduce new requirements for judicial training on trauma-informed practices and clarify how courts must handle allegations of abuse.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of mandatory restrictions to include specific findings on domestic violence and child abuse, moving from discretionary limitations to mandatory ones in cases where abuse is proven. It also extends protections to parents residing with individuals who have committed sexual offenses against children.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory limitations requiring sole decision-making and prohibiting non-court dispute resolution (like mediation) for parents found to have committed domestic violence or child abuse.

Established a rebuttable presumption against granting joint residential time to abusive parents, shifting the burden to the abusive parent to prove contact is safe.

Added specific requirements for courts to make detailed written findings on how custody orders protect abused parents and address the effects of abuse.

Introduced stricter rules for parents residing with sexually violent predators, including presumptions against contact and requirements for specialized supervision.

DEFINITION

Clarified definitions of 'domestic abuse' and 'protective actions' to ensure good-faith safety measures by abused parents are not used against them in court.

Updated the definition of 'abusive litigation' to explicitly include situations where a parent has been found to have committed domestic violence.

FISCAL

Added requests for funding to develop online continuing education and trauma-informed training curricula for judicial officers.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 2, 2025 · House Mar 8, 2025

How they voted

34–17

Passed

Total votes 51

Apr 2, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

3 Yea 17 Nay

85% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 25, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 60; nays, 37; absent, 0; excused, 1.

lower

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-17)

senate

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.

upper

Mar 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors