Full Breakdown
Pennsylvania Pushes for Shared-Parenting Custody Reform
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Hearing on House Bill 1499
Lawmakers, family-law experts, judges and parents gathered in Harrisburg for a hearing on House Bill 1499, the child-custody reform bill sponsored by Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union). Testifiers called for a presumption of shared parenting—“50/50” custody when both parents are willing, able and fit—and highlighted the emotional, financial and psychological toll of the current system. The hearing was followed by a press conference on the Capitol Rotunda and a public panel where families shared personal stories of limited access to their children.
Background & Context
Pennsylvania has taken incremental steps toward custody reform. In 2025 the General Assembly passed House Bill 378, enacted as Act 11 of 2025, which reduced the number of factors judges may consider in custody cases from 19 to 12. Rep. Flick authored an amendment requiring courts to provide parties with the revised factors within 30 days, a change he says has improved access to information for self-representing parents. Earlier that year, Flick co-sponsored House Bill 414, enacted as Act 40 of 2025, the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, which bars permanent custody changes during a parent’s military deployment. Several other states have enacted comparable “equal-parenting” statutes, providing a model for Pennsylvania’s effort.
Data & Statistics
- Teresa Sneed of National Family Justice rated Pennsylvania’s shared-parenting policy a “D.”
- Attorney Greg Fellerman calculated that his 65/35 custody order removed 13 months (56 weeks, 401 days, 9,624 hours) of time with his daughter before her death at age 20.
- Reports differ on the bill’s sponsorship count: one source cites 32 co-sponsors, another lists 78.
Official Statements & Responses
Rep. Flick framed the legislation as a “child-focused” bill that safeguards children’s right to meaningful relationships with both parents. He noted that the bill has garnered “undeniable support” and that momentum has been building among fathers, mothers and grandparents nationwide.
Teresa Sneed emphasized that the issue is “children’s rights,” citing studies linking shared parenting to better academic performance, mental health and long-term well-being.
Hon. Mica Wood Pence, a Kentucky judge, described initial judicial hesitation toward equal-parenting laws but reported that the Kentucky model has led to fewer courtroom battles and stronger families.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This issue is very personal for me, as I have drawn from my own experience in family court, fighting for years for equal custody of my children in an unjust system,” — Rep. Jamie Flick
- “This isn’t a parental rights issue—it’s a children’s rights issue, and the science is unequivocal,” — Teresa Sneed, National Family Justice
- “My custody order was 65/35 and it breaks down to a little more than a year, 13 months, 56 weeks, 401 days, 9,624 hours taken from me,” — Greg Fellerman
What’s Next
The legislative agenda for the coming week includes a press conference at 9 a.m., a House Judiciary Committee hearing at 10 a.m., and a public panel from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the Capitol steps. All events will focus on House Bill 1499, which currently resides in the House Judiciary Committee. Advocates plan to continue gathering public testimony and signatures to pressure committee action.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on the exact number of bill co-sponsors—32 versus 78—highlighting a need for clarification from House leadership. Additionally, while Sneed’s “D” rating underscores perceived deficiencies in Pennsylvania’s current policy, the criteria for that rating are not detailed in the testimony. No organized opposition or formal criticism of the bill appears in the provided material.