Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the establishment or modification of legal custody of a child
Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Topics:Courts & civil law
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 13, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 13, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 4, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 18, 202548–0
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- 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 the establishment or modification of legal custody of a child. The bill allows a court to award separate rights and responsibilities of joint legal custody to each parent in a dissolution of marriage proceeding. The bill allows a court to resolve joint legal custody disputes between parents during or after the pendency of the parents’ dissolution of marriage action. To initiate a dispute resolution, a parent must file an application with the court and serve process on the other parent.
Read the full explanation
Upon receipt of the application, the court must set a hearing and resolve the dispute in the best interest of the child. A resolution of a dispute may award each parent separate rights and responsibilities of joint legal custody. The bill allows the parents of a child to stipulate to a parenting plan that includes the allocation of parenting functions, parenting time, or both. A court must approve the parenting plan unless it finds the agreement is not in the best interest of the child.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
House subcommittee
Named March 10, 2026. Meeting: Wednesday, March 11 · 8:00 AM · RM 304.
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
5 for · 4 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.
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.