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WashingtonHB 10142025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Implementing recommendations of the 2023 child support schedule work group.

Sponsored By: Suzanne Schmidt (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 8 mixed.

High-income support table rules

Starting January 1, 2026, the child support economic table is presumptive up to $50,000 in combined monthly net income. If families earn over $50,000 combined, a judge can order more than the table amount only with written findings.

Low-income child support floor and reserve

If your monthly net income is below 180% of the one‑person poverty guideline, the court protects a self‑support reserve at that level. Starting January 1, 2026, the minimum child support is at least $50 per child per month, unless state law allows less. When combined monthly net income is under $2,200, the court bases support on each household’s resources and living costs.

Payment relief during court-ordered treatment

If you are in court‑ordered behavioral health treatment, your support can be reduced to $50 per child per month. It lasts until discharge or up to six months, then the full amount resumes. This relief can be denied if you have income or assets, is allowed only once in your life, and past collections are not refunded. You, the payee, or the department can ask to add this abatement to older orders; the department must review or refer cases, and court and agency notices must explain this right. The law defines incapacitation for this purpose as being in court‑ordered behavioral health treatment.

Payment relief while incarcerated

Beginning April 1, 2027, if you file while currently incarcerated for at least six months or serving a longer sentence and your order lacks abatement language, you can seek to cut support to $10 per month per order. At any time, an administrative order can be changed without showing a big change in circumstances if incarceration explains the mismatch with ability to pay. You may file once the order is final and while you are still confined.

When your support order can change

After 12 months, you may ask to change an administrative order based on new child support schedule amounts. If the change is over 30% and causes hardship, the court can split it into two equal steps six months apart. Beginning April 1, 2027, income‑based adjustments can happen once every 24 months without showing a big change. Also beginning April 1, 2027, support can extend past age 18 up to 19 if the child is a full‑time student expected to finish before 19 and there is a finding of need.

Proof of income and allowed deductions

You must give the last two years of tax returns and current paystubs to verify income for child support. Required state payroll deductions you actually pay, like paid family and medical leave and long‑term care premiums, can be deducted when figuring net income.

Courts update worksheets and agencies act

By January 1, 2026, the courts update child support worksheets to explain how to round income; this ends August 1, 2026. The Department of Social and Health Services can adopt rules needed to carry out this law.

Military duty rules for parenting plans

The law defines deployment, activation or mobilization, and temporary duty as military duties that can affect parenting plans. Courts use these terms when making or changing parenting plans for service members.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Suzanne Schmidt

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Amy Walen

    Democratic • House

  • Jake Fey

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Timmons

    Democratic • House

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Timm Ormsby

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 141 • No: 4

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 3/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 93 • No: 3 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025*.

    5/13/2025House

  2. Chapter 272, 2025 Laws.

    5/13/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/13/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/16/2025House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/16/2025House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/9/2025House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    4/2/2025House

  11. LAW - Majority; do pass.

    4/1/2025House

  12. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

    3/13/2025House

  13. Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2025House

  14. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/11/2025House

  15. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/11/2025House

  16. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/4/2025House

  17. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    1/23/2025House

  18. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/22/2025House

  19. CRJ - Majority; do pass.

    1/22/2025House

  20. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.

    1/22/2025House

  21. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

    1/13/2025House

  22. Introduced

    1/13/2025House

Bill Text

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