PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 16202025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Concerning limitations in parenting plans.

Sponsored By: Jamila Taylor (Democratic)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Limits when a parent or housemate is abusive

Courts must limit a parent’s time when the parent abused or willfully abandoned a child. Limits also apply for a history of domestic violence, assaults causing serious harm or fear, or sexual assault. If the parent lives with someone who has done these acts or certain sex crimes, the court limits time to keep the child away from that person.

Tougher limits in sex offense cases

Courts restrain contact for parents convicted of listed sex crimes or found to be sexual predators. If a parent lives with such an offender, time in that person’s presence is barred unless the parent proves it is safe. A parent who sexually abused their own child cannot have unsupervised contact. To regain contact, the parent must meet strict steps like treatment and provider support, and the judge must make strong written safety findings. Unsupervised time is considered only after at least two years of safe supervised visits under a neutral plan.

Safer supervised visits and quick emergency stops

Supervised visits must have clear written rules. Visits do not start until the parent and supervisor sign that they will follow the rules. A professional supervisor is presumed unless you show indigency or isolation and a capable lay supervisor. Judges can order evaluations and treatment tied to parenting, and can condition time on finishing them. In emergencies, a judge can stop time right away and must hold a review within 14 days.

Sole decision-making after abuse and safer disputes

When a judge finds serious abuse, abandonment, or domestic violence, the other parent gets sole decision-making. The court does not order face‑to‑face mediation or similar meetings in those cases. A judge may relax limits only with clear and convincing proof that contact is safe and recurrence is very unlikely. Courts can also label meritless, harassing filings by an abuser as abusive litigation and stop them.

Protections for military parenting time

Military duty alone is not a big change that justifies a permanent custody shift. A temporary custody order during deployment ends no later than 10 days after you notify the temporary custodian of your return. The court may let a family member or close person use your time while you serve, but not someone who would face safety limits.

Harder to regain time and safer moves

If your time is limited for safety reasons, you can expand it only after a big, related change since the last order. Any change must be based on new or previously unknown facts and be in the child’s best interests. In move cases, judges may weigh whether a parent is under safety limits.

Court process, definitions, and guardian training

The law defines key terms used in cases about parenting‑plan limits. Guardians ad litem must get extra training in these cases when available. The court can use a special list of contract guardians in state‑started paternity cases.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jamila Taylor

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Roger Goodman

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 178 • No: 61

House vote • 4/18/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 60 • No: 37 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 32 • No: 17

House vote • 3/8/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 86 • No: 7 • Other: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/25/2025House

  2. Chapter 166, 2025 Laws.

    4/25/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    4/25/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/21/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

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

    4/18/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/18/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 32; nays, 17; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/2/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/2/2025House

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

    4/2/2025House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/26/2025House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/24/2025House

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/20/2025House

  15. Minority; do not pass.

    3/20/2025House

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

    3/20/2025House

  17. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

    3/11/2025House

  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 86; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused, 5.

    3/8/2025House

  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/8/2025House

  20. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/8/2025House

  21. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/8/2025House

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

    3/4/2025House

  23. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/11/2025House

  24. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/7/2025House

  25. Minority; do not pass.

    2/7/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation