Establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases.

HB 2735, titled "Establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases," would require Washington courts to apply specific constitutional principles when making custody decisions. It establishes a "presumption of parental fitness" (meaning parents are considered fit unless proven otherwise), mandates strict scrutiny for state interventions in parent-child relationships, and requires clear, contestable court orders without secret evidence. The bill directly affects parents and courts handling family law cases in Washington, aiming to align family law procedures with constitutional protections like due process and parental rights. Named "Troxel II" after a U.S. Supreme Court case on parental rights, it proposes no new custody rules but sets procedural standards for existing cases. The bill is currently in committee review.