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Senate adopts comprehensive amendment to Senate Bill 174 to clarify parenting-time findings and procedures
Summary
Senators moved and the committee adopted a consolidated amendment (10-79) to Senate Bill 174 that requires written findings of fact when rejecting parenting plans, adjusts how courts treat substantially equal parenting time, and adds procedural clarifications for paternity and temporary orders.
Senators moved and the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted a consolidated amendment to Senate Bill 174 that revises standards and procedures for child-parenting determinations, the committee chair said.
Senator Gabbard moved to adopt amendment 10-79, described as an omnibus amendment that combined several stakeholder-driven changes. The amendment requires courts to provide written findings of fact when rejecting parenting plans or denying substantially equal parenting time, adjusts how temporary orders and pattern-of-relationship evidence are considered, clarifies fee waivers and filing options for unmarried parents after paternity establishment, and makes technical changes to child-support presumptions for custodial and noncustodial parents.
Ranking members and sponsors said the package reflected further conversations with interested parties and sought to better equalize allocations while preserving a child's best interest. The chair asked if there was any objection; seeing none, the committee adopted the amendment and the bill "will stand as the fourth hearing on Senate Bill 174."
