Bill > HB2735

This bill, known as "Troxel II," establishes a "constitutional floor" for family law cases in Washington State, meaning it sets a minimum standard of rights for parents and children that courts must uphold, drawing from principles found in the U.S. Constitution. It presumes parents are fit to raise their children unless proven otherwise through evidence of violence, substance abuse, or neglect, and generally favors a 50/50 custody arrangement unless parents agree differently. The bill also mandates that any government interference with the parent-child relationship must be the least restrictive option and that similarly situated parents should be treated equally. Furthermore, it requires parents to cooperate in ways that keep both households functional and ensures that court orders are clear, contestable, and that only judges, not advisors, make decisions, prohibiting secret evidence or one-sided processes.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2735&Year=2025&Initiative=false