Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
HB 2039
Brief Description: Concerning child support pass through.
Sponsors: Representatives Macri, Gregerson and Ormsby.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Postpones to July 1, 2029, the requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services pass through to a family receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) all current child support collected each month, and disregard current child support when determining TANF eligibility and benefit amount.
Hearing Date: 4/4/25
Staff: Matt Mazur-Hart (786-7139).
Background:

Federal law requires each state to have a child support enforcement program that complies with federal requirements as a condition of receiving federal funds for child support enforcement and  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  As a condition of receiving TANF benefits, a family must assign its rights to child support to the state during the months the family receives the benefits.  Assigned child support collections are retained by the state and the federal government as partial reimbursement for TANF assistance.

 

State law currently requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to pass through up to $50 each month for families on TANF with one child and up to $100 each month for families on TANF with more than one child.  Any amount collected above those thresholds is retained by the state, and a portion of that is remitted to the federal government for its share.

 

New state legislation enacted in 2024, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1652, which takes effect January 1, 2026, requires the DSHS to pass through all current child support it receives for a family receiving TANF.  Under the new law, the state will no longer retain any current child support for TANF families.  The legislation also requires the DSHS to disregard and not count as income any current child support when determining TANF eligibility and benefit amount.
Summary of Bill:

The effective date for the requirement to pass through to a TANF family all current child support collected each month and disregard current child support for TANF eligibility is postponed by three and a half years to July 1, 2029.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on March 18, 2025.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.