Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2735: Family law cases
Status: In committee, February 25, 2026
Establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases.
What the bill says
An act Relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases; adding a new section to chapter 26.09 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases; adding a new section to chapter 26.09 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 26.09 RCW to read as follows: (1) The legislature recognizes (b) In Troxel v. Granville, the United States supreme court recognized parental rights as a fundamental liberty interest, yet declined to set a standard of review; (c) As the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, it behooves us to apply Madisonian guardrails around parental and children's rights; (d) The first amendment protects freedom of speech, and it guarantees that citizens may speak without fear of government retaliation; and (e) The fourteenth amendment guarantees due process, where no person shall be deprived of liberty without due process of law. (2) The legislature intends for this chapter to be implemented subject to a constitutional floor that consists of the following (b) Strict scrutiny and least restrictive means. Any intrusion on the parent-child bond must err on the side of the United States Constitution and be the least restrictive to those rights; (c) Equal standing. Similarly situated parents must be treated equally; (d) Parental duty to cooperate. Parents must cooperate in accordance with enforceable behaviors that prevent sabotage and keep both homes functional; …
Sponsors
- Rob Chase (R) · primary sponsor
- Jim Walsh (R)
- Hunter Abell (R)
Latest actions
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.
Subjects: NAMED ACTS, DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Common questions
- What is HB2735?
- HB2735 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Family law cases.
- What does HB2735 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases; adding a new section to chapter 26.09 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2735?
- In committee as of February 25, 2026. Latest action: Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM. (February 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2735?
- Rob Chase (R), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2735?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2735&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.