Flick’s Shared Parenting Legislation Highlighted During Hearing, Press Conference and Panel
October 5, 2026
HARRISBURG – On Monday, Oct. 5, Rep. Jamie Flick (R Lycoming/Union) hosted another significant day for child custody reform in Pennsylvania. His bill, House Bill 1499, which seeks to ensure fairness in custody determinations and protect children’s rights to have equal access to both parents, provided they are willing, fit and able, was the focus of a press conference, Judiciary Committee public hearing and panel at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.
Flick was joined by a large group of legislators, supporters, legal experts, family advocates, parents, grandparents and former lawmakers who support his bill.
“The message in the bill is that kids need both safe, fit and loving parents,” Flick said. “I continue to fight for this important piece of family legislation because every day I get calls from fathers, mothers and grandparents from across the country who share their own experiences about the need for reform.”
Following a morning press conference, the focus shifted to a House Judiciary Committee public hearing where House Bill 1499 was the central issue for discussion. House Bill 1499 has been held without action in the Judiciary Committee since May 2025, despite it having 78 co-sponsors from both parties and a grassroots petition that has gathered more than 2,800 signatures.
The hearing, which lasted more than two hours, was packed with more than 100 supporters of House Bill 1499, who frequently applauded those who supported the bill.
During the hearing, Hon. Mica Wood Pence, 43rd Circuit judge from Barren and Metcalfe counties in Kentucky, the first state to enact an equal parenting law in 2018, offered testimony that she has seen more parents working together and making the best decisions for their children.
“A child should not have one house they live in and one house they visit,” Pence said. “No one wants these children to be abused. One of the things I’m most proud to see in Kentucky is that our rates of abuse have dropped. It’s because a child has two trusted adults they can go to.”
Objection came in from seven of eight panelists who were brought in to oppose Flick’s House Bill 1499 during the House Judiciary Committee’s public hearing. The concerns focused on domestic violence, a presumption of 50/50 at the start of custody determinations, and whether or not House Bill 1499 considers the recently passed Act 11 of 2025 which reduces factors from 19 to 12 when judges are determining custody.
“These factors were passed after House Bill 1499 was drafted,” said Flick. “We did address those factors in a recent amendment.”
Rep. Rob Kauffman, (R-Franklin), Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a co-sponsor of House Bill 1499, said he has been looking for data on how many parents, male or female, are awarded primary custody.
He also acknowledged the concerns about the custody factors and said that while legislation may require judges to be impartial, he has heard anecdotal reports that some judges are not.
Rep. Andrew Kuzma (R-Allegheny/Washington), another co-sponsor of House Bill 1499, and an orphan’s court attorney, said he’s done his own research and found that fathers all across the Commonwealth only receive primary custody 14% of the time.
Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette), an attorney, said she quit doing custody cases because there was no justice in it.
Reps. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) and George Margetas (R-York), both co-sponsors of House Bill 1499, questioned testifiers and received loud applause when speaking.
“If we are going to presume that custody will be a 50/50 split, why don’t we record it on paper?” Pugh questioned. “Things like drug abuse, child abuse or a Protection from Abuse (PFA) will certainly move the 50/50 custody equation.”
Rep. Margetas said that too often parents in custody cases are at the mercy of the judge they are assigned and must rely on the individual judge’s discretion when determining custody factors.
“We allow criminals to be presumed not guilty until proven guilty,” Margetas said. “Why shouldn’t two good parents have that same presumption unless proven otherwise? Why should litigants across Pennsylvania have to play Russian roulette?”
Prior to the hearing, the day started with a press conference held on the steps of the Main Capitol Rotunda. Flick lead a message of equality for families where supporters held signs that read “Kids Need Both” and “House Bill 1499 Fairness for Families.”
“We are here for the kids,” Flick said. “We are here for Pennsylvania kids.”
Jeff Steiner, M.Ed., executive director of Dads’ Resource Center, offered stories of parents and grandparents who have been isolated from their children and grandchildren through unfair custody hearings. He said it’s frustrating for those who have been waiting since Rep. Flick introduced the bill on May 28, 2025, which he cited as 495 days, for something to happen.
“The support for House Bill 1499 demonstrates that shared parenting is not a partisan issue, because it’s about doing better for Pennsylvania children,” Steiner said. “Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly believe children should have the meaningful involvement of both parents following separation, and we now have an extraordinary bipartisan coalition of legislators willing to seriously examine how we can better serve these families.”
Robert Garza, director for Americans for Judicial Accountability and a nationally recognized advocate for children and parental rights, said he will continue urge parents to fight for 50/50 shared custody.
“This is about protecting the everyday moments that build relationships,” Garza said. “Moments no court can give back once they’re gone. I’m grateful to Rep. Flick for championing this effort.”
Mark Ludwig, executive director of the National Council for Equal Shared Parenting, spoke at the press conference. He has played a key role in advancing similar legislation in several states, including Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida and Missouri.
“Children should not lose a meaningful relationship with either parent simply because their parents no longer live together,” Ludwig said. “I’m proud to stand with Rep. Flick and Pennsylvania families in support of House Bill 1499. When both parents are willing, fit and able children deserve the opportunity to have both fully involved in their lives.”
Rael LaPenta, a member of Mothers Against Child Abuse, a national organization dedicated to protecting children from emotional, psychological, coercive and other forms of maltreatment, said the bill is in the best interest of parents and children.
“I’m a mother of both a son and a daughter,” LaPenta said. “This is not mothers versus fathers. It is about giving our children the safest, healthiest foundation possible. Pennsylvania has already done the studying and made the findings. Now we have the opportunity to act on them. I cannot look at my son and my daughter, and someday perhaps their children, and accept a system that still begins with assumptions instead of evidence. If we believe a child’s emotional and psychological well-being matters, and if Pennsylvania has already recognized the value of safe, meaningful relationships with both parents, then our custody laws should reflect it.”
Flick also took questions and listened to stories during a personal question-and-answer session where people from all over the Commonwealth shared their frustrations and hopes for reform.
“Pennsylvania can, and should, be a leader in child custody,” Flick said. “Without shared parenting, children are more likely to struggle in school, face emotional challenges and fall into cycles that hurt their future. I’m grateful for a day like this where we hear from families impacted by the corrupt child custody system, listen to experts who understand these issues and discuss how we can move this legislation forward to provide greater stability for children and families.”
