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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate Bill 294 Requires Temporary Joint Physical Care in Divorce Proceedings
Last action · January 22, 2026: Subcommittee recommends passage.Sponsor: Lynn Evans
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate File 294 requires courts to award temporary of a child to both parties during the pendency of a dissolution proceeding, unless a exists against awarding physical care to one party.
Parents undergoing divorce proceedings will be subject to a mandatory presumption of temporary during the litigation, altering how interim custody arrangements are determined.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
parents in dissolution proceedings
Parties to a dissolution proceeding are subject to a mandatory requirement for temporary joint physical care during the pendency of the custody case unless an exception applies.
Key Facts
- Courts must order temporary joint physical care to both parties during the pendency of an original custody proceeding.
- The mandatory joint physical care requirement applies unless a rebuttable presumption exists against awarding physical care to one party.
- If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that joint physical care is inappropriate, it must cite reasons using factors listed in section 598.41, subsection 3.
- Temporary orders for custody must continue to provide for a minimum visitation schedule with the noncustodial parent in order to encourage compliance with a visitation order, unless not in the best interest of the child.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Senate File 294 require courts to do during a divorce proceeding involving children?
What must the court do if it decides joint physical care is inappropriate?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
28 actions- Jan 22, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Jan 20, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 12:30PM RM 103.
- Jan 16, 2026HouseSubcommittee: Thomson, C., Lawler and Wessel-Kroeschell. H.J. 121 .
- Dec 31, 2025Iowa Legislature* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
- May 15, 2025HouseRereferred to Judiciary. H.J. 1222 .
- Apr 10, 2025HousePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 928 .
Show 22 earlier actions
- Apr 7, 2025HouseCommittee amendment H-1218 filed. H.J. 903 .
- Apr 7, 2025HousePlaced on calendar. H.J. 902 .
- Apr 2, 2025HouseCommittee Vote: Yeas, 20. Nays, 0. Excused, 1. H.J. 902 .
- Apr 2, 2025HouseCommittee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 902 .
- Apr 1, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Mar 27, 2025HouseSubcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 8:15AM House Lounge 2.
- Mar 25, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Holt, Wessel-Kroeschell and Wheeler. H.J. 813 .
- Mar 18, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 717 .
- Mar 18, 2025HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 680 .
- Mar 18, 2025SenateImmediate message. S.J. 562 .
- Mar 18, 2025SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 35, nays 13. S.J. 561 .
- Mar 5, 2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 425 .
- Mar 5, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 417 .
- Mar 5, 2025SenateCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 514 . S.J. 425 .
- Mar 4, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Mar 3, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 03/04/2025 8:00AM RM 102.
- Feb 27, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Thomson, C., Lawler and Wessel-Kroeschell. H.J. 464 .
- Feb 27, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 461 .
- Feb 19, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 17, 2025SenateSubcommittee Meeting: 02/19/2025 11:00AM Senate Lounge.
- Feb 17, 2025SenateSubcommittee: Evans, Dickey, and Petersen. S.J. 282 .
- Feb 12, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Judiciary. S.J. 254 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
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Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
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Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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