A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family law and juvenile law.
Summary
HB 1157 revises Indiana family-law provisions governing custody and parenting time to emphasize “maximum practical parenting time” with both parents when that is consistent with the child’s best interests. The bill directs courts, in custody and parenting-time decisions under the affected chapters, to consider promoting continuity of the child’s relationship with both parents and to treat each parent’s ability to encourage the child’s relationship with the other parent as a relevant best-interests factor.
The bill also encourages parents to create their own parenting plans and parenting-time calendars for court approval. If the parents cannot agree on part of a plan, the court must fill in the missing components based on the child’s best interests; if the parents are in total disagreement, the state parenting-time guidelines apply. Courts would be required to make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record before ordering parenting time below the minimum standards in those guidelines.
Impact
HB 1157 would amend multiple sections of the Indiana Code in the custody and parenting-time chapters, including provisions applicable to divorce, paternity, and general custody cases, as well as related juvenile-law best-interests language. It strengthens the statutory preference for substantial parenting time with both parents, while preserving the existing rule that custody and parenting time remain governed by the child’s best interests and that there is no presumption favoring either parent. The bill also adds procedural requirements for deviations below guideline minimums and reinforces supervised parenting-time rules for persons convicted of child molesting or child exploitation.
Sentiment
The bill’s overall direction appears pro-parenting-time and pro-shared-parenting, with the stated goal of increasing continuity of relationships between children and both parents. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate broader legislative support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the measure is framed as a child-centered custody reform rather than a major policy shift away from the best-interests standard.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the bill’s stronger emphasis on maximum practical parenting time and the requirement for courts to justify any parenting-time order that falls below guideline minimums. Supporters would likely view this as promoting shared parenting and reducing discretionary under-ordering of parenting time, while critics may argue it could constrain judicial flexibility in difficult family situations. Another likely area of concern is how the new emphasis interacts with cases involving domestic violence, child safety, or high-conflict parents, although the bill retains existing protections allowing courts to limit parenting time when it would endanger the child or impair emotional development.