Washington’s child-support guidelines are reviewed on a recurring statutory schedule. This page explains the current process and identifies a possible 2027 pathway without treating future policy as enacted law.
CURRENT LAW
RCW 26.19.025 requires a work group review every four years, with specified appointments and a report to the Legislature. HB 1014 is already enacted law effective July 27, 2025; it should not be described as a pending reform.
- RCW 26.19.025 — Quadrennial review of child support guidelinesWashington State Legislature · statute · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07.
- EHB 1014 (2025) — final bill report and legislative historyWashington State Legislature · legislative material · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07. Enacted 2025 legislation; effective July 27, 2025. Read the current RCWs for operative text.
- EHB 1014 (2025) — final bill reportWashington State Legislature · legislative material · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07. Legislative history explaining enacted guideline changes; not a substitute for the RCW text.
POLICY PROBLEM
Equity compensation, variable pay, and withholding can create recurring questions for guidelines and worksheets. The existence of a policy question does not establish that current Washington law is invalid or that RSUs should be excluded.
- RCW 26.19.025 — Quadrennial review of child support guidelinesWashington State Legislature · statute · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07.
- RCW 26.19.071 — Standards for determination of incomeWashington State Legislature · statute · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07.
PROPOSED REFORM
A possible 2027 pathway is: statutory work-group appointments, data and stakeholder review, a report, proposed legislation, committee hearings, and enacted amendments if approved. The next cycle is an inference from the four-year statute; no future bill is represented here as filed or enacted.
- RCW 26.19.025 — Quadrennial review of child support guidelinesWashington State Legislature · statute · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07.
Questions for a qualified professional
- What official work-group materials have been published?
- Which proposed change is being discussed, and is it enacted?
- What data would show the effect of an equity-compensation rule?
Frequently asked questions
Is a 2027 RSU child-support reform already law?
No. RCW 26.19.025 creates a recurring review process. Future recommendations or bills must be distinguished from enacted law.
Sources
- RCW 26.19.025 — Quadrennial review of child support guidelinesWashington State Legislature · statute · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07.
- EHB 1014 (2025) — final bill report and legislative historyWashington State Legislature · legislative material · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07. Enacted 2025 legislation; effective July 27, 2025. Read the current RCWs for operative text.
- EHB 1014 (2025) — final bill reportWashington State Legislature · legislative material · WashingtonSource checked: 2026-09-07. Legislative history explaining enacted guideline changes; not a substitute for the RCW text.
Educational information, not individual legal advice. Read our disclaimer.