Legislation on shared parenting is an attempt at family court reform to make shared parenting more common at the expense of sole custody, so that children of divorced parents can maintain a close daily relationship with both their mother and father. Based on scientific studies showing that children do better with shared versus sole custody, there are many organizations that advocate for shared parenting legislation, such as Americans for Parental Equality, the National Parents Organization, Americans for Equal Shared Parenting the Children's Rights Council, Families Need Fathers, the International Council on Shared Parenting, WISCONSIN for Children and Families(WFCF), and Leading Women for Shared Parenting.Grangeat M, Kruk E, Bergström M, Marinho S. Are joint custody and shared parenting a child’s right?, The Conversation, October 4, 2018.

The following is a list of shared parenting legislation proposals by state and year along with information from each bill relevant to shared parenting and its current status.

Concepts within Shared Parenting Legislation Family courts commonly order sole custody to one parent with visitation rights to the other. The various shared parenting legislation has some variance on a few concepts which will be pointed out here.

Legal presumption vs consideration: A rebuttable legal presumption and preference (such as for joint custody over sole custody) give the courts a starting point. If the court determines that the legal presumption is not fit for the case, it must usually state what evidence it considers to have overcome the burden of proof associated with the legal presumption. These presumptions generally make exceptions for children suffering from abuse or neglect. A legal consideration requires the court to consider a specific type of custody, but adds no preference or presumption for it. Joint physical custody vs 50/50 parenting time: Different jurisdictions have differing definitions for joint physical custody. Many don't specify how much time must go to each parent to be considered joint (as opposed to sole) physical custody. Some of the legislation here aims to add a presumption for joint custody, while some of it aims to more clearly establish that parenting time should be approximately equal. Some of the legislation also aims to limit the amount of inequality in parenting time, such as setting it to at worst 35/65. Child support: Most child support guidelines were developed for sole rather than shared custody. This type of legislation specifies how child support should be calculated when there is equal or close to equal parenting time.

Summary table + Summary Table of Shared Parenting Legislation By CountryCountry Year BillSponsor(s) Cosponsors Type Lower house Upper house Outcome Canada 2014 C-560 Vellacott (C) Presumption, 50/50 Finland 2018-19 RP88 Government Consider, 50/50 colspan="2" Italy 2018 S735 Pillon (LN) 3 (LN), 5 (M5S) Presumption, 50/50

+ Summary Table of Shared Parenting Legislation By US StatesState Year Bill Sponsor(s) Cosponsors Type Lower house Upper house Outcome Alabama 2017 SB186 Stutts (R) Presumption, joint Alabama 2018 SB211 Stutts (R) Presumption, Joint Alabama 2019 SB266 Stutts (R) Presumption, 50/50 Alabama 2025 HB53 Sellers (D) Presumption, joint Alaska 2018 HB368 LeDoux (R) 1 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Alaska 2019 HB85 Rauscher (R) 2 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Arizona 2012 SB1127 Allen(R) Burges(R) Gray(R)Barto(R) Crandell(R) Smith(R) Consider, 50/50 Arizona 2017 HB2296 Kern (R) Presumption, 50/50 Arizona 2026 SB1720 Bolick (R) Presumption, 50/50 Arkansas 2019 HB1325 Lowery (R) Presumption, joint Arkansas 2021 SB18 Clark (R) Bipartisan Presumption, 50/50 California 2026 AB1978 Johnson (R) Presumption, 50/50 Connecticut 2017 HB6638 Gonzalez (D) Presumption, 50/50 Connecticut 2017 HB6645 Srinivasan (R) Presumption, 50/50 Connecticut 2025 SB01026 Martin (R) 2 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Florida 2016 SB668 Stargel (R); Judiciary and Appropriations Committees Presumption, 50/50 Florida 2023 HB1301 Persons-Mulicka (R) 11 (R), 2 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Georgia 2020 HB1140 Jasmine Clark (D) Todd Jones (R) Rhonda Burnough (D) Chuck Efstration (R) John Carson (R) Presumption, Equal or approximately equal Hawaii 2014 HB2163 Evans (D); Brower (D) Cabanilla (D); Choy (D) Hanohano (D); Souki (D) 4 (D), 1 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Hawaii 2019 HB107 McDermott (R) Presumption, 50/50 Illinois 2017-18 HB4113 Ford (D) 10 (R), 5 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Illinois 2019 HB185 Ford (D) 1 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Indiana 2017 SB36 Ford (R) Presumption, 50/50 Indiana 2019 HB1306 Judy (R) 1 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, joint Indiana 2019 SB87 Ford (R) Presumption, 50/50 Indiana 2025 HB1067 DeVon (R) Presumption, 50/50 Iowa 2017 HB71 Mommsen (R) Presumption, joint Iowa 2017 SB190 Zaun (R) Presumption, joint Iowa 2018 SB2374 Judiciary Committee Presumption, 50/50 Iowa 2018 SB3154 Judiciary Committee Presumption, 50/50 Iowa 2019 SB11 Zaun (R) Presumption, 50/50 Iowa 2019-2020 SF571 Senate Judiciary Committee Presumption, 50/50 Kansas 2017-18 HB2529 Pittman (D) 9 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Kansas 2017-18 SB257 Fitzgerald (D) Presumption, 50/50 Kansas 2019-2020 SB157 Hilderbrand (R) 12 (R), 4 (D) Temporary custody, presumption, 50/50 Kentucky 2017 HB492 Petrie (R) 2 (R) Temporary custodyPresumption, 50/50 , Matt Bevin (R) Kentucky 2018 HB528 Petrie (R) 10 (R) Presumption, 50/50 , Matt Bevin (R) Louisiana 2026 HB1239 Green (D) 6 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Maine 2017 HB472 Espling (R); Sampson (R) Presumption, joint Maryland 2017 SB905 Muse (D) Presumption, 50/50 Maryland 2019 SB638 Smith (D) Child support Massachusetts 2017-18 HB3090 Markey (D), Harrington (R) 6 (R), 4 (D) Consider, 50/50 Massachusetts 2025 H1710 Garry (D) Presumption, shared Michigan 2017-18 HB4691 Runestad (R) Presumption, 50/50 Michigan2025HB5211Johnsen (R)18 (R), 7 (D)Presumption, 50/50, Deviation for DV, Clear and Convincing Evidence Michigan 2026 SB0940 Runestad (R) Presumption, equal parenting time Minnesota 2011-12 HB322 Scott (R) 22 (R), 6 (D) Presumption, >45/55 Minnesota 2017-18 HB2699 Scott (R) 5 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, >45/55 Minnesota 2019 HB46 Hertaus (R) 3 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Minnesota 2019 HB127 Lucero (R) 3 (R) Presumption, >40/60 Minnesota 2019-2020 SF1853 Housely (R) Presumption, 50/50 Mississippi 2017 SB2406 DeBar (R) Presumption, joint Mississippi 2019 SB2424 DeBar (R) Presumption, joint Mississippi 2026 HB1662 Aguirre (R) Presumption, jointMissouri2011SB35Lembke (R) Child support Missouri2016HB1550Neely (R)Consider, shared Missouri 2016 HB2055 Swan (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2016 SB964 Wallingford (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2017 HB724 Swan (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2017 SB377 Wallingford (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2018 HB1667 Swan (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2018 HB2591 Dinkins (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2019 HB229 Swan (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2019 SB14 Wallingford (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2020 SB531 Wallingford (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2020 HB1765 Swan (R) Presumption, 50/50 Missouri 2023 SB35 May (D) Bipartisan Presumption, 50/50 Montana 2017 HB399 Zolnikov (R) Presumption, joint New Hampshire 2017-18 HB236 Pearson (R) 1 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, 50/50 New Hampshire 2019 HB362 DeSimone (R) 4 (R) Child support New Hampshire 2026 HB1770 Sabourin dit Choiniere (R) 8 (R) Presumption, 50/50 New Jersey 2018 AB1091 Peterson (R); Chaparro (D); DiMaio (R); McKnight (D) 11 (D), 3 (R) Presumption, 50/50 New Jersey 2018 SB273 Cardinale (R); Bucco (R) 4 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, 50/50 New Jersey 2026 A2963 Peterson (R); DiMaio (R) 4 (D), 5 (R) Presumption, 50/50 New Jersey 2026 S2008 Polistina (R); McKnight (D) Presumption, 50/50 New Mexico 2019 HB389 Gallegos (R); Schmedes (R) Presumption, 50/50 New Mexico 2019 SB422 Pirtle (R) Presumption, 50/50 New York 2019 SB2916 Helming (R) 2 (R) Presumption, 50/50 New York 2026 A06151 Tague (R) 3 (R) Temporary custody, presumption, 50/50 New York 2026 A04786 Manktelow (R) 2 (R) Presumption, shared parenting North Carolina 2015 SB711 Bryant (D) 2 (D) Presumption, 50/50 North Dakota 2017 HB1392 Kading (R); Kiefert (R) McWilliams (R); Pyle (R) Jones (R); Vigesaa (R) Presumption, 50/50 North Dakota 2019 HB1496 Kading (R); Meier (R) Rohr (R); Vetter (R); Luick (R) Consider, 50/50 Ohio 2011 SB144 Skindell (D); Grendell (R) Presumption, 50/50 Oklahoma 2019 HB1276 Lawson (R) Presumption, 50/50 Oklahoma 2026 SB1708 Jech (R); Tedford (R) 15 (R) Presumption, joint Oregon 2017 SB550 Hass (D); Thatcher (R) 1 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Oregon 2019 SB318 Thatcher (R) 1 (D) Consider, 50/50 Pennsylvania 2019-2020 HB1397 Helm et al. Presumption, 50/50 Rhode Island 2026 H7821 Lima (D) Presumption, 50/50 South Carolina 2017 HB3126 McKnight (D) 8 (R) Presumption, 50/50 South Carolina 2019 HB3295 Elliott (R) 8 (R) Presumption, 50/50 South Carolina 2026 H4622 Beach (R) 24 (R), 2 (D) Presumption, 50/50 South Dakota 2017 SB72 Jensen (R), Pischke (R) 17 (R), 2 (D) Presumption, 50/50 South Dakota 2019 HB1104 Pischke (R) 37 (R), 2 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Tennessee 2019 SB448 Bell (R) 1 (R) Presumption, joint Texas 2015 HB2363 Peña (R) 1 (R) Consider, 50/50 Texas 2017 HB453 White (R) 6 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, 50/50 Texas 2025 SB849 Middleton (R) Presumption, equal parenting time Vermont 1990 S367 McCormack (D) Vermont 1997-98 S124 McCormack (D) Presumption Vermont 2001-02 S123 McCormack (D) 3 (R), 2 (D) Presumption Vermont 2003-04 H691 Masland (D) Presumption Vermont 2005-06 H699 Masland (D) Consider, shared Vermont 2007-08 S73 McCormack (D) 1 (D) Presumption Vermont 2007-08 H141 Masland (D) 1 (R) Consider, shared Vermont 2009-10 H275 Masland (D) 1 (R), 2 (D) Consider, shared Vermont 2011-12 H354 McCullough (D) Presumption, shared Vermont 2013-14 H323 Masland (D) 5 (D), 1 (I) Consider, 50/50 Vermont 2013-14 H412 McCullough (D) 10 (D), 1 (I) Consider, 50/50 Vermont 2015-16 H163 Masland (D) 6 (D) Consider, 50/50 Vermont 2017-18 HB166 Masland (D) 2 (D) Consider, 50/50 Vermont 2017-18 HB634 McCullough (D) 1 (D) Consider, 50/50 Vermont 2017-18 SB36 McCormack (D) 1 (R) Presumption, joint Vermont 2019 SB34 Benning (R) 3 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, joint Vermont 2021-22 H13 McCullough (D) Presumption, joint Vermont 2021-22 H221 Masland (D) 2 (R), 4 (D) Presumption, joint Vermont 2023-24 H400 Masland (D) 4 (D) Presumption, joint Vermont 2025-26 H369 Masland (D) 1 (D) Presumption, joint Vermont 2025-26 S304 Williams (R) Presumption, joint Virginia 2018 HB1351 Davis (R) 1 (R) Consider, shared West Virginia 2019 HB2046 Foster (R) 7 (R), 1 (D) Presumption, joint West Virginia 2019 SB474 Azinger (R) Presumption, joint West Virginia 2022 SB463 Smith (R) 10 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Wisconsin 2000 1999 Wisconsin Act 9 (Budget) Presumption, joint custody is in a child's best interest Wisconsin 2000 1999 Wisconsin Act 9 (Budget) Maximize with both parents/Consider,50/50 Wisconsin2005AB897/SB 586Presumption, 50/50Wisconsin2007AB571/SB311Presumption, 50/50Wisconsin2013/15/17 Presumption, 50/50 Wyoming 2017 HB260 8 (R) 3 (R) Presumption, 50/50 Wyoming 2019 HB114 10 (R) Presumption, 50/50

Alabama Alabama Senate Bill 186 (2017) sought to create a legal presumption that joint custody is in the best interest of the child. While it did not specify what sort of time-sharing dynamics were to be considered for joint custody, it did specifically remove the language stating: "joint custody does not necessarily mean equal physical custody," This bill died in the senate chamber and did not receive a floor vote.

Alaska Alaska House Bill 368 (2018) attempted to establish that rebuttable presumption of shared physical custody was in the best interest of the child, and define it as the child residing with each parent for 50 percent of the year. The burden required to overcome the presumption was a preponderance of the evidence. This bill died in committee and did not receive a floor vote.

Arizona