Relating to requirements for a parent to obtain joint physical custody of a child

Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee

Topics:Courts & civil law

Same legislation: HSB 300

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedMarch 5, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeMarch 5, 2025
Done: House committeeMarch 6, 2025
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 27, 202584–9
Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to requirements for a parent to obtain joint physical custody of a child. Under current law, a court may require parents awarded joint legal custody of a child in a dissolution of marriage proceeding to submit a proposed joint physical care parenting plan. The bill requires the parents to submit a proposed joint physical care parenting plan. If a court denies a request for joint physical care of a child, the bill requires the court to list the requirements the parent who was not awarded physical care of a child must meet to be awarded joint physical care of the child in the future.

Read the full explanation

A parent’s fulfillment of the listed requirements shall be considered a material and substantial change in circumstances for the purposes of modifying an order awarding child custody. The bill prohibits the parent awarded physical care of the child from intentionally impeding the other parent from fulfilling the listed requirements.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-1209; see Amendments. Full bill text

Senate subcommittee

Named April 1, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§598.41

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

8 for · 2 against · 3 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

Study bill

HSB 300Renumbered

91st General Assembly

HF 932Passed a chamberfrom HSB 300

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.