Flick Announces Oct. 5 Press Conference, Hearing and Panel at State Capitol for Child Custody Reform Legislation

September 28, 2026

HARRISBURG - Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union) today announced there will be a major day for his child custody reform legislation as there is a press conference, Judiciary Committee public hearing and panel all scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

All the events will focus on House Bill 1499, authored by Flick, which would ensure fairness in custody determinations and protect the rights of children to have equal access to both parents, provided they are willing, able and fit.

"Momentum has been building for House Bill 1499," Flick said. "I'm excited we've reached this point as I continue to hear from fathers, mothers and grandparents from across the country who share their own experiences about the need for reform. I encourage supporters of the legislation to come to Harrisburg if they can participate in this important day."

A press conference will take place at 9 a.m. on the steps of the Main Capitol Rotunda. Speakers at the press conference will include Flick; Robert Garza, the vice president of National Family Justice and a nationally recognized advocate for children and parental rights; Mark Ludwig, executive director of the National Council for Equal Shared Parenting; Jeff Steiner, M.Ed., executive director of Dads' Resource Center; Hon. Mica Wood Pence, 43rd Circuit judge from Barren and Metcalfe counties in Kentucky, the first state to enact an equal parenting law; Hon. Tony Payton, former member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Teresa Sneed, founder, president and chief executive officer, National Family Justice; Rael LaPenta, executive director of The Professional Alliance for Child Centered Safety; and several other advocates of child custody reform.

"I am thrilled to have so many people who believe in the need for reform coming together at the Capitol," Flick said. "House Bill 1499 has 78 co-sponsors from both parties and a grassroots petition that has gathered more than 2,800 signatures. This bill is really a child-focused bill as it considers the best interest of children when it comes to both safety and emotional wellbeing."

Flick is also going to be part of a House Judiciary Committee public hearing at 10 a.m. in the Majority Caucus Room (140 Main Capitol) which will center on House Bill 1499.

"House Bill 1499 has been lingering in the Judiciary Committee since May 2025 despite having undeniable support," Flick said. "This is a momentous opportunity to bring this issue before the committee."

Flick will also be hosting a public House Bill 1499 Panel from 12:30 - 2 p.m. in Room B-31 Main Capitol. The panel will serve as an opportunity to hear directly from parents, grandparents and others who have been directly impacted by Pennsylvania's current custody system within the framework of "why House Bill 1499 is important to me."

"I want to give as many people as possible the chance to be heard," Flick said. "The panel will be a very public way to share the stories from parents who have lost access to their children at the whim of a judge or on a false allegation. My bill calls for 50/50 custody from the start for willing, able and fit parents, with a clear path for a modified custody agreement when clear and convincing evidence shows custody should not be 50/50."

Pennsylvania has previously taken steps toward child custody reform. Last year, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 378 into law as Act 11 of 2025. This bill reduces the factors a judge considers during child custody cases from 19 to 12. Flick wrote an amendment to the bill, which was unanimously passed by the House, requiring the court to give everyone a copy of the new factors within 30 days of modifications being made so that every party, including parents who often represent themselves because hiring lawyers is so expensive, has fair access to information.

"Act 11 of 2025 is working," Flick said. "In multiple cases, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has vacated and remanded lower court custody modifications because of a judge's failure to review the streamlined custody factors or provide written justifications in a timely manner as state law now mandates."

Flick was also a co-sponsor of House Bill 414, now Act 40 of 2025, known as the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, which prohibits permanent custody changes during a parent's military deployment. Shapiro signed the legislation into law at the end of October, which fixes a major flaw in the child custody system that allowed parents to use deployment as a reason to alter existing custody arrangements.

On Nov. 18, 2025 Flick also hosted another major day for shared parenting reform. A highlight from the day included a Republican Policy Committee hearing, where testifiers included Teresa Sneed, founder, president and chief executive officer, National Family Justice; Hon. Tony Payton, former member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Greg Fellerman, founding partner, Fellerman and Ciarimboli Law; and Hon. Mica Wood Pence.

Seven other states - Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Louisiana and Mississippi - have passed or adopted similar child custody legislation.

"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."

Flick welcomes all who are able to attend the events on Oct. 5. For those who can't attend, he will be streaming the events on his Facebook page and his website, www.RepFlick.com.

Representative Jamie Flick
83rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andrew Forgotch
717.772.9905
[email protected]
RepFlick.com