Bill > HB1014

This bill implements recommendations from the 2023 child support schedule work group, making several key changes to child support calculation and enforcement in Washington state. The bill updates the economic table for child support calculations, raising the income threshold from $12,000 to $50,000 and expanding the table to include higher income levels. It introduces a new provision for abating child support obligations to $50 per month per child when a parent is undergoing court-ordered behavioral health treatment, similar to existing provisions for incarcerated parents. The bill modifies how income is calculated for child support purposes, including adding mandatory state insurance premiums to deductible expenses and adjusting rules around imputing income. It also clarifies how courts should handle support obligations in cases of incapacitation, creating a rebuttable presumption that an incapacitated person cannot pay full child support and allowing for a temporary reduction to $50 per child per month for up to six months. The bill takes effect in stages, with some provisions beginning January 1, 2026, and others on April 1, 2027, and grants the Department of Social and Health Services rule-making authority to implement these changes. The goal is to create a more flexible and compassionate child support system that accounts for various financial and health circumstances of parents.

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https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1014&Year=2025&Initiative=false