Harrisburg, Pa. — State Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union) announced a press conference, House Judiciary Committee public hearing, and panel focused on his child custody reform legislation were scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, at the State Capitol.
All of the events center on House Bill 1499, authored by Flick, which a release from his office said would ensure fairness in custody determinations and protect the rights of children to have equal access to both parents, provided they are willing, able and fit. Flick represents Pennsylvania’s 83rd House District.
“Momentum has been building for House Bill 1499,” Flick said in the release. “I’m excited we’ve reached this point as I continue to hear from fathers, mothers and grandparents from across the country who share their own experiences about the need for reform. I encourage supporters of the legislation to come to Harrisburg if they can participate in this important day.”
According to the release, the schedule for Oct. 5 was:
9 a.m. — Press conference on the steps of the Main Capitol Rotunda
10 a.m. — House Judiciary Committee public hearing in the Majority Caucus Room, 140 Main Capitol
12:30 to 2 p.m. — Public House Bill 1499 panel in Room B-31 Main Capitol
Speakers listed for the press conference included Flick; Robert Garza, vice president of National Family Justice; Mark Ludwig, executive director of the National Council for Equal Shared Parenting; Jeff Steiner, executive director of Dads’ Resource Center; Hon. Mica Wood Pence, a Kentucky circuit judge; former Pennsylvania House member Hon. Tony Payton; Teresa Sneed of National Family Justice; Rael LaPenta of The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety; and other custody-reform advocates, the release said.
“I am thrilled to have so many people who believe in the need for reform coming together at the Capitol,” Flick said. “House Bill 1499 has 78 co-sponsors from both parties and a grassroots petition that has gathered more than 2,800 signatures. This bill is really a child-focused bill as it considers the best interest of children when it comes to both safety and emotional wellbeing.”
Flick said in the release that House Bill 1499 had been lingering in the Judiciary Committee since May 2025 despite what he called undeniable support, and that the Oct. 5 hearing was a momentous opportunity to bring the issue before the committee.
The afternoon panel was described as a chance for parents, grandparents and others impacted by Pennsylvania’s custody system to speak within the framework of why House Bill 1499 is important to them. Flick said his bill calls for 50/50 custody from the start for willing, able and fit parents, with a clear path for a modified agreement when clear and convincing evidence shows custody should not be 50/50.
“I want to give as many people as possible the chance to be heard,” Flick said. “The panel will be a very public way to share the stories from parents who have lost access to their children at the whim of a judge or on a false allegation.”
The release noted prior Pennsylvania custody-related measures Flick cited, including Act 11 of 2025 (House Bill 378), which reduced the factors a judge considers in custody cases from 19 to 12, and Act 40 of 2025 (House Bill 414), the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, which prohibits permanent custody changes during a parent’s military deployment. Flick said he wrote an amendment to the Act 11 legislation requiring courts to give parties a copy of the new factors within 30 days of modifications.
Seven other states — Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Louisiana and Mississippi — have passed or adopted similar child custody legislation, according to the release. Flick said people unable to attend could stream the Oct. 5 events on his Facebook page and website, www.RepFlick.com.
Commented