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Legislative Tracker

Family court reform news.

A running log of state legislation that moves family court toward equal parenting, real enforcement, and transparency — each update linked to its primary source and to the bill in the stack it advances.

Updates are curated by Ghost Dads Media. Nothing here is legal advice; always read the bill text at the source link before acting on it.

Latest updates

  1. Ohio

    Ohio: Equal Shared Parenting Act — what we're tracking

    Ohio custody law still runs through ORC 3109.04, which leaves shared parenting to judicial discretion rather than starting every fit-parent case from equal time. Ghost Dads Media is tracking any Ohio measure that would create a rebuttable presumption of equal parenting time, and will log bill numbers, sponsors, and committee assignments here as they are introduced.

    Related bill: A New Start at Equality →Source: Ohio Revised Code 3109.04
  2. Texas

    Texas codified make-up parenting time after unsubstantiated investigations

    Texas Family Code § 157.168 requires courts to order additional periods of possession to compensate a parent for time denied — the statutory model behind Time Taken, Time Back.

    Related bill: Time Taken, Time Back →Source: Texas Family Code § 157.168
  3. West Virginia

    West Virginia HB 4648 moved toward equal custodial allocation

    West Virginia amended its allocation-of-custodial-responsibility statute to push courts toward equal (50/50) allocation between fit parents, adding a second state precedent for a presumption-based standard.

    Related bill: A New Start at Equality →Source: West Virginia Legislature — HB 4648 (2022)
  4. Kentucky

    Kentucky HB 528 made joint custody and equal time the presumption

    Kentucky became the first state to enact a rebuttable presumption of joint custody and equally shared parenting time in temporary and permanent custody orders. It remains the clearest working precedent for the first bill in the stack.

    Related bill: A New Start at Equality →Source: Kentucky General Assembly — HB 528 (2018)

The nine-bill stack

Every update maps back to a bill.

  1. 01A New Start at Equality— Equal Custody for All
  2. 02Time Taken, Time Back— Deter False Allegations
  3. 03Three Strikes— Accountability in Family Court
  4. 04Justice Delayed is Justice Denied— Timely Resolution for Families
  5. 05Cameras in the Courtroom— Transparency and Accountability
  6. 06Child Support Dual Calculation Reform— Fair Support for All Families
  7. 07The Litigant Access and Economy Act— Affordable Justice for All
  8. 08Appealability of Temporary Orders— Protecting Due Process Rights
  9. 09Reimbursement of Fees and Costs— Accountability for Parental Alienation
Read the full Reform Blueprint