Equal Parenting Takes Center Stage: Rep. Jamie Flick Leads Bipartisan Push for Family Court Fairness

In Pennsylvania’s Capitol this November, one lawmaker is turning a deeply personal fight into a movement that could reshape how custody decisions are made across the state.

Rep. Jamie Flick is hosting what he calls a milestone day for child custody reform on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with a public hearing and press conference in Harrisburg. The morning will begin with a Policy Committee hearing from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the House Minority Caucus Room, followed by a press conference on the Capitol Rotunda steps at 1:30 p.m.

Both events will focus on House Bill 1499 — Flick’s sweeping proposal to update Pennsylvania’s custody laws, ensure fairness in family courts, and give children the chance to grow up with both parents actively in their lives.

A Personal Journey Turned Public Cause

Flick doesn’t hide that this issue hits close to home. He’s spoken openly about his own struggles navigating the family court system and says those experiences are what drive him to push for change.

“Every day I hear from fathers, mothers, and grandparents who share their stories,” Flick said. “This bill is about protecting children and giving them the chance to have both parents in their lives — when both are willing and fit.”

That belief forms the backbone of his legislation. House Bill 1499 would create a presumption of shared custody — meaning, unless there’s clear evidence showing it’s not in a child’s best interest, both parents start on equal footing when it comes to parenting time.

A Shift Toward Equality and Clarity

The bill modernizes decades-old language in state law and replaces complicated terms like “primary” and “partial” custody with simpler ones such as “shared” and “equal parenting time.” It also adds clearer safety definitions and ensures that temporary custody decisions — often the first and most emotional stage of a case — begin from a fair, 50/50 starting point.

Judges could still deviate from equal time, but they’d be required to explain why in writing. That level of transparency, Flick says, is crucial for families who feel lost in a maze of legal jargon and inconsistent rulings.

“This is not a bill about parents,” he explained. “It’s a bill about children. And children do best when both parents are part of their lives.”

Building Momentum Across the Map

Shared-parenting laws like Flick’s are part of a growing trend. Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida, and Missouri have already passed similar legislation, and more than a dozen other states are considering the same.

In Pennsylvania, HB 1499 already has 29 co-sponsors — a mix of Republicans and Democrats — signaling rare bipartisan agreement in a polarized political environment.

That broad support, Flick believes, reflects the universal nature of the issue. “This isn’t red or blue,” he said. “It’s about fairness, family, and the future of our kids.”

Progress Built on Recent Wins

House Bill 1499 follows on the heels of two major custody reforms signed into law earlier this year. In June, Gov. Josh Shapiro approved Act 11, which simplifies the list of custody factors courts must weigh and requires judges to share that information with all parties within 30 days — a Flick amendment that ensures parents without lawyers still get equal access to the rules.

Then in October, Act 40 — another measure Flick co-sponsored — became law, protecting deployed military parents from losing custody while serving overseas.

With those victories behind him, Flick says the November hearing marks the next big step.

“A Meaningful Day for Families”

When the Capitol’s Rotunda fills on Nov. 18, it won’t just be lawmakers and lawyers in attendance. Parents, advocates, and reform supporters from across the country are expected to gather in Harrisburg to show their support for change.

“We’ll be taking the biggest step forward yet,” Flick said. “Families have waited too long for a system that’s fair, transparent, and focused on what’s best for children. This is how we get there.”