Senate committee advances revised parenting-plan bill after contested amendments

Engrossed substitute House Bill 16-20, concerning limitations and parenting plans, received a due-pass recommendation from the Washington State Senate Law & Justice Committee on March 20 and was sent to the Rules Committee for further consideration.

The bill, as amended by a striking amendment adopted in committee, revises the statutory purpose statement, includes abusive-use-of-conflict provisions, and changes court discretion, criteria and procedural requirements for imposing limitations on parenting and residential provisions. Committee discussion focused on balancing protections for survivors of gender-based violence with concerns that new provisions could be weaponized in family-court…