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SB 940MICHIGANSession 2025-2026State Billin committee

High Impact

Michigan bill establishes equal parenting time presumption in child custody disputes

Original title: Family law: child custody; factors determining best interest of child; include equal time with both parents as a factor.

Last action · April 29, 2026: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETYSponsor: Jim Runestad

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

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Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 940 establishes a legal presumption that awarding equal or approximately equal parenting time to each parent is in the best interests of the child in custody disputes between parents. The measure requires to rebut this presumption and prohibits awarding custody to a parent convicted of criminal sexual conduct resulting in the child's conception, subject to specific exceptions.

Why it matters

Parents involved in custody disputes would face a legal standard favoring equal parenting time unless clear evidence proves otherwise, while parents convicted of certain sexual offenses would be legally barred from receiving custody.

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.

Directly affected

parents in child custody disputes

Subject to a statutory presumption favoring equal parenting time when determining custody arrangements.

Directly affected

offending parents convicted of criminal sexual conduct

Barred from receiving child custody under specified conditions involving sexual offenses, while remaining liable for child support obligations.

Key Facts

Establishes a legal presumption that equal or approximately equal parenting time is in the best interests of the child in custody disputes between parents.
Allows the equal parenting time presumption to be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence placed on the record.
Prohibits courts from awarding custody to a biological parent convicted of criminal sexual conduct resulting in the child's conception or found by clear and convincing evidence to have committed nonconsensual sexual penetration.
Exempts convictions under section 520d(1)(a) of the Michigan penal code from the custody prohibition, and allows custody if parents subsequently cohabit and establish a mutual custodial environment.

Show all 7 facts

Specifies that an offending parent remains obligated to provide child support or maintenance even when denied custody, though the other parent or guardian may decline it.
Prohibits awarding custody of a child or a sibling to an individual convicted of criminal sexual conduct where the victim was that individual's child, unless both the other parent and the child or sibling (if of sufficient age) consent.
Conditions the enactment of Senate Bill 940 on the passage of both Senate Bill No. 941 and Senate Bill No. 942.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Senate Bill 940 change about child custody disputes?

It establishes a legal presumption that awarding equal or approximately equal parenting time to each parent is in the best interests of the child, which can only be by .

Can a parent convicted of criminal sexual conduct get custody of the child?

No, the bill prohibits courts from awarding custody to a biological parent convicted of criminal sexual conduct that resulted in the child's conception, unless the parents later cohabit or other specific exceptions apply.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

Apr 29, 2026SenateCommittee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Apr 29, 2026SenateIntroduced
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JIM RUNESTAD

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

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

cross reference100% confidence

Companion Bill Dependency

Senate Bill 940 explicitly conditions its enactment on the passage of Senate Bill 941 and Senate Bill 942.

Senate Bill No. 941 Senate Bill No. 942

Connected Entities

Jim Runestad, Michigan

PersonJim Runestad“Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 940”Map →

locationMichigan“Jurisdiction considering the legislation”Map →

Sources

Open source document

legislature.mi.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy65
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz40
Current news / social attention level

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