Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the establishment or modification of legal custody of a child
Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee
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 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 When parents are getting divorced, a judge can split up specific legal responsibilities for their children instead of giving everything to both parents at once. Parents can also work together to create their own parenting plans, which a judge will approve as long as it is good for the child. If parents cannot agree on these responsibilities, they can ask a court to step in and make a decision.1
Read the official explanation
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. 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.
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
3 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 20, 2025 (3) · on the Legislature’s site
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91st General Assembly