Washington SB 5783: Reestablishing the underground economy task force.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting use of vaccination status in 1
certain administrative and legal proceedings; amending RCW 26.09.187; 2
adding a new section to chapter 11.130 RCW; adding a new section to 3
chapter 26.33 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW; and 4
declaring an emergency.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 11.130 7
RCW to read as follows:8
In considering and deciding a petition for guardianship of a 9
minor pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter or of an incapacitated 10
adult pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter, a court may not:11
(1) Admit into evidence the vaccination status of a person 12
seeking appointment as a guardian; or13
(2) Consider a person's vaccination status when making an order 14
on the petition.15
Sec. 2. RCW 26.09.187 and 2007 c 496 s 603 are each amended to 16
read as follows:17
(1) DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS. The court shall not order a 18
dispute resolution process, except court action, when it finds that 19
any limiting factor under RCW 26.09.191 applies, or when it finds 20
S-1571.2
SENATE BILL 5783
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Fortunato, J. Wilson, and McCune
p. 1 SB 5783

that either parent is unable to afford the cost of the proposed 1
dispute resolution process. If a dispute resolution process is not 2
precluded or limited, then in designating such a process the court 3
shall consider all relevant factors, including:4
(a) Differences between the parents that would substantially 5
inhibit their effective participation in any designated process;6
(b) The parents' wishes or agreements and, if the parents have 7
entered into agreements, whether the agreements were made knowingly 8
and voluntarily; and9
(c) Differences in the parents' financial circumstances that may 10
affect their ability to participate fully in a given dispute 11
resolution process.12
(2) ALLOCATION OF DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY.13
(a) AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. The court shall approve 14
agreements of the parties allocating decision-making authority, or 15
specifying rules in the areas listed in RCW 26.09.184(5)(a), when it 16
finds that:17
(i) The agreement is consistent with any limitations on a 18
parent's decision-making authority mandated by RCW 26.09.191; and19
(ii) The agreement is knowing and voluntary.20
(b) SOLE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY. The court shall order sole 21
decision-making to one parent when it finds that:22
(i) A limitation on the other parent's decision-making authority 23
is mandated by RCW 26.09.191;24
(ii) Both parents are opposed to mutual decision making;25
(iii) One parent is opposed to mutual decision making, and such 26
opposition is reasonable based on the criteria in (c) of this 27
subsection.28
(c) MUTUAL DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY. Except as provided in (a) 29
and (b) of this subsection, the court shall consider the following 30
criteria in allocating decision-making authority:31
(i) The existence of a limitation under RCW 26.09.191;32
(ii) The history of participation of each parent in decision 33
making in each of the areas in RCW 26.09.184(5)(a);34
(iii) Whether the parents have a demonstrated ability and desire 35
to cooperate with one another in decision making in each of the areas 36
in RCW 26.09.184(5)(a); and37
(iv) The parents' geographic proximity to one another, to the 38
extent that it affects their ability to make timely mutual decisions.39
(3) RESIDENTIAL PROVISIONS.40
p. 2 SB 5783

(a) The court shall make residential provisions for each child 1
which encourage each parent to maintain a loving, stable, and 2
nurturing relationship with the child, consistent with the child's 3
developmental level and the family's social and economic 4
circumstances. The child's residential schedule shall be consistent 5
with RCW 26.09.191. Where the limitations of RCW 26.09.191 are not 6
dispositive of the child's residential schedule, the court shall 7
consider the following factors:8
(i) The relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's 9
relationship with each parent;10
(ii) The agreements of the parties, provided they were entered 11
into knowingly and voluntarily;12
(iii) Each parent's past and potential for future performance of 13
parenting functions as defined in RCW 26.09.004(((3))) (2), including 14
whether a parent has taken greater responsibility for performing 15
parenting functions relating to the daily needs of the child;16
(iv) The emotional needs and developmental level of the child;17
(v) The child's relationship with siblings and with other 18
significant adults, as well as the child's involvement with his or 19
her physical surroundings, school, or other significant activities;20
(vi) The wishes of the parents and the wishes of a child who is 21
sufficiently mature to express reasoned and independent preferences 22
as to his or her residential schedule; and23
(vii) Each parent's employment schedule, and