Apologies that there has not been an update in a while. 

I have been holding off because we were working to secure a meeting with Representative Briggs regarding the status of HB 1499 in the House Judiciary Committee. These meetings can take time to coordinate, but we were finally able to meet Wednesday. There is a lot more obviously, but I will share as much as I can. 

There were six of us in the room — Representative Briggs and two members of his staff, Representative Flick, me, and one other individual. The conversation was wide-ranging, at times productive, and at times challenging.

Representative Briggs and his staff made it clear that HB 1499 is not part of their agenda and as such they won’t be putting their time and energy into refining or advancing the bill. 

That is fair – their party won the majority in the House and he was made Chair of the committee. 

It is what it is. 

There was one notable point of alignment where Representative Briggs acknowledged that outcomes approximating 50/50 custody are often best when circumstances allow.

Some of the concerns they brought up included: 

That the bill could be interpreted as overriding the existing custody factors.
That it could create risk in cases involving abuse.
That it has not been sufficiently vetted by external stakeholder groups, including the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) and domestic violence advocacy organizations.

On the first point, this is not what is intended at all, but we can see where it could be read that way. Refinements to the bill’s language could address this and some other concerns. 

We addressed the last two points directly, but they made it clear that the burden is on us to engage the groups who they said are bringing these concerns to them and address their concerns to the point where their opposition is reduced.

To provide more background on the PBA situation. 

At the start of this process early last year, Representative Flick told me that Representative Briggs told him to talk to the PBA about concerns that they have regarding “the best interests of children.” 

Since that time, he has earnestly tried to engage the PBA in discussion about HB 1499 to no avail. For example, he let them know that Judge Mica Pence from Kentucky was willing to facilitate an in-person meeting with the PBA to talk about how a similar bill has worked in Kentucky. They did not take that offer up. 

This was relayed in the meeting, and he was once again directed to outreach to them.  

I have rewritten this part of the update many times and have forced myself to not offer my thoughts on this particular situation, not that I have to explain it to you.  

We knew this is likely the most challenging hurdle we face on this journey. The process to move legislation is at times exhilarating, and at times a rock fight. There are highs, and there are lows. It requires persistence, adaptation, and continued engagement. 

This is an instance where there are key decision-makers that we must account for that are not fully seeing or hearing the reality that so many families are experiencing. That was clear at this meeting. There were a few portrayals made that stood in stark contrast to the real-life experiences of mothers, fathers and grandparents in the family courts. 

It is human nature to get defensive and combative when you are so passionate about something that you also know is very much a virtuous endeavor. As hard as it may be, we must see these folks as human, too. This is imperative to us, but not to them. There are many other matters that they are deeply committed to, other matters of great intensity and complexity that they are dealing with.

We must continue to press on in a positive manner and find a way to win them over. Have faith in what we are doing and find grace for those who may oppose it. 

We know that 2022 polling facilitated by the DRC and NPO that the citizens of Pennsylvania OVERWHELMINGLY support shared parenting, and that this should be the standard in our family courts. 

You don’t get this kind of support if there is not a glaring problem that is screaming for the most basic, common-sense adjustments. 

We know that support extends into the House of Representatives, where now 75 of Representative Flick and Representative Briggs’ colleagues have signed as sponsors for HB 1499. 

27 Ds and 49 Rs. 

57 men and 19 women. 

Heck, some of them are lawyers. 

In this day and age, you don’t get that kind of support on ANYTHING.

We will continue as we have to this point - with respect and determination, grounded in the understanding that what we are advocating for TRULY is in the best interests of the children.

Stay steady. Stay engaged.

Our cause is just, and we will continue to see it through.

In your service, 

Jeff