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Bill

HB 1297

Reporting self-employed workers to the division of child support.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Fey and 4 co-sponsors

Requires reporting of self-employed worker income data to child support division to improve enforcement of child support obligations in Washington state.

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
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Bill Summary · HB 1297

Legislative bill overview

HB 1297 requires certain entities to report information about self-employed workers to Washington's Division of Child Support. The bill expands existing reporting mechanisms that currently apply primarily to employers, extending them to capture self-employment income data relevant to child support calculations and enforcement.

Why is this important

Child support enforcement depends on accurate income information, but self-employed individuals have historically been harder to track than W-2 employees. This bill aims to improve collection rates and ensure consistent child support obligations by creating mandatory reporting channels for self-employment data, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of workers in Washington.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and scope: Unclear which entities must report (licensing boards, tax agencies, financial institutions?) and which self-employed workers are covered, creating compliance complexity and potential over/under-inclusion
  • Privacy concerns: Mandatory reporting of income information raises questions about data sharing between government agencies and whether adequate privacy protections exist for sensitive financial information
  • Compliance burden: Businesses and reporting entities may face administrative costs and liability exposure for incomplete or inaccurate reporting, potentially discouraging self-employment or creating barriers for low-income workers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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