HB1239 • 2026

CHILDREN/CUSTODY: Provides relative to child custody

Children

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Kyle M. Green , Jr.
Last action: 2026-06-01
Official status: Became law without the Governor's signature - Act 605
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about updates to emergency or disaster custody rules, nor does it explicitly define when courts should consider equal custody arrangements as being in the best interest of the child.

Child Custody Law

This law changes Louisiana's child custody rules to require equal physical custody between parents unless it is not feasible or in the best interest of the child.

What This Bill Does

Amends and reenacts R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b) to require courts to consider shared physical custody as being in the best interest of a child, unless it is not feasible or harmful.

Who It Names or Affects

Children involved in custody disputes
Parents who have to decide or go to court about where their children will live

Terms To Know

Physical Custody: The arrangement that determines which parent the child lives with most of the time.
Best Interest of the Child: What courts consider when deciding what is best for a child's health, safety, and well-being.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify how to handle situations where equal custody would be harmful to the child.
It is unclear how this change will affect existing custody agreements that are already in place.

Bill History

2026-06-01 H
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2026-06-01 H
Becomes Act No. 605 without the Governor's signature.
2026-05-20 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-19 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-19 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-19 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-18 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-07 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-06 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-05 S
Rules suspended. Reported favorably.
2026-04-22 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.
2026-04-21 S
Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-21 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-20 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/21/2026.
2026-04-15 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-04-14 H
Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 473 reported by the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure (6-0-1).

Official Summary Text

CHILDREN/CUSTODY: Provides relative to child custody

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 6052026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1239 (Substitute for House Bill No. 473 by Representative Green)
BY REPRESENTATIVE GREEN AND SENATORS BARROW, BOUDREAUX,
CARTER, JACKSON-ANDREWS, JENKINS, AND PRICE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b), relative to child custody; to provide relative to
3 the best interest of a child; to provide relative to equal custody; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 9:335(A)(2)(b) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §335. Joint custody decree and implementation order; custody during an emergency
8 or disaster
9 A.
10 * * *
11 (2)
12 * * *
13 (b) Unless the court determines To the extent it is not feasible and or in the
14 best interest of the child, physical custody of the children should child shall be
15 shared equally.
16 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.