Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to child custody and visitation for parents subject to deployments
Sponsored by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Sen. Adrian Dickey (R)
Topics:Courts & civil lawVeterans & military
Same legislation: SF 2053
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 4, 2026
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 23, 202647–0
- Done: House committeeMarch 18, 2026
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Military members who are sent away for less than 30 days for work can make up for missed time with their children. They can schedule this extra time either 30 days before or 30 days after their deployment, as long as they don't exceed the number of days they missed. These parents must notify the other parent in writing and give the court a plan for how they will make up the missed time.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to child custody and visitation for parents subject to short-term deployment. The bill defines “short-term deployment” as the movement or mobilization of a deploying parent for less than 30 days pursuant to uniformed service member orders that are designated as unaccompanied, do not authorize dependent travel, or otherwise do not permit family members to accompany the deploying parent. The bill allows a deploying parent who is unable to exercise court-ordered physical care or visitation during a short-term deployment to make up the missed time 30 days immediately preceding or 30 days immediately following the deployment. The amount of make-up time may not exceed the number of days missed, and may not exceed 30 days. The bill requires the deploying parent to notify the other parent, in a record, of the short-term deployment unless reasonably prevented by the circumstances of service. The deploying parent must also provide a plan for fulfilling the missed physical care or visitation to the other parent and file the plan with any court that has entered a child-custody determination in effect concerning the child.
Why it matters. Parents with court-ordered custody or visitation schedules who are subject to short-term military deployment can make up missed time during the days immediately before or after their deployment. These parents must notify the other parent of the deployment and provide a written plan for making up the missed time to both the other parent and the court.2
Changed since by amendment S-5020; see Amendments.
House subcommittee
Named March 3, 2026. On March 9, 2026 it recommended passage.
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
Lobbying
1 for · 0 against · 2 undecided · Who →
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91st General Assembly