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Michigan HB-5211 Advances Shared Parenting Reforms

November 2025 – Michigan House Bill 5211 has been introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee, representing a significant step forward in family court reform. The bill, sponsored by Representative Gina Johnsen along with 24 co-sponsors from both parties, seeks to amend the Child Custody Act to include equal parenting time as a factor in determining the best interests of children.

The legislation addresses longstanding concerns that family courts have not adequately considered shared parenting arrangements. By modifying sections 3 and 5 of the 1970 Child Custody Act, HB-5211 aims to establish a framework where children can maintain meaningful relationships with both parents following separation or divorce.

The bill is part of a comprehensive reform package tied to HB-5212 and HB-5213, indicating a coordinated legislative effort to modernize Michigan’s approach to child custody decisions.

Nationwide Movement Gains Momentum

Organizations across the country, including Expose and Reform Now (EARN) and similar advocacy groups, continue to push for comprehensive changes to how the legal system handles cases involving domestic violence, human trafficking, and family court proceedings. These efforts focus on several critical areas:

Protection for Vulnerable Children and Parents

Advocacy groups are working to ensure that protective parents’ concerns about abuse are taken seriously in family court proceedings. Multiple organizations have documented cases where allegations of domestic violence or child abuse were minimized or ignored, leading to unsafe custody arrangements.

Recent initiatives include:

One Mom’s Battle and Project Justice USA launched a nationwide survey in December 2024 to collect data on family court experiences across all 50 states, timed strategically as 44 state legislatures convene between January and March 2025.
The Center for Judicial Excellence continues its mission to strengthen judicial accountability and protect vulnerable children within the family court system.
Arizona’s Joint Legislative Committee released a comprehensive report in November 2025 identifying critical failures in family court systems and calling for immediate reform to prioritize child safety.

Key Reform Priorities

Advocates are calling for:

Evidence-Based Training – Requiring judges, custody evaluators, and court personnel to receive comprehensive training on domestic violence dynamics, coercive control, and trauma-informed practices.
Judicial Accountability – Establishing oversight mechanisms and limiting quasi-judicial immunity that currently shields decision-makers from consequences when children are harmed.
Standardized Practices – Creating uniform standards for custody evaluations, guardian ad litem appointments, and behavioral health assessments.
Transparency and Data Collection – Implementing systems to track outcomes and identify patterns of systemic failures.
Prioritizing Child Safety – Ensuring that child protection takes precedence over other considerations in custody determinations.

Kayden’s Law: A National Model for Child Protection

One of the most significant developments in family court reform has been the emergence of Kayden’s Law, named in memory of seven-year-old Kayden Mancuso, who was tragically killed by her father during an unsupervised custody visit in 2018. Despite her mother’s repeated warnings and evidence of the father’s violent history and mental health issues, the court granted unsupervised access, which ultimately led to Kayden’s murder.

Federal Kayden’s Law

In March 2022, President Biden signed the Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence Act, commonly known as Kayden’s Law, as part of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. This federal legislation incentivizes states to strengthen their child custody laws by:

Restricting Expert Testimony – Evidence from professionals regarding alleged abuse may be admitted only when the professional possesses demonstrated expertise and experience in working with victims of domestic violence or child abuse, including child sexual abuse.
Limiting Reunification Therapies – No “reunification treatment” may be ordered by the court without scientifically valid and generally accepted proof of the safety, effectiveness and therapeutic value of the particular treatment.
Mandatory Training – Judges must undergo mandatory training on domestic violence, child abuse, and trauma, including understanding coercive control, victim and perpetrator behavior patterns, and the long-term impacts on children.
Considering History of Violence – Courts must review evidence of past abuse, including protection orders, arrests, and convictions when making custody decisions.

State Adoption of Kayden’s Law

Pennsylvania became one of the first states to enact comprehensive Kayden’s Law protections in August 2024. The Pennsylvania law creates a rebuttable presumption that custody cases involving a history of violence include supervised custody provisions. The law requires a separate hearing to review evidence of abuse, and courts are required to conduct more comprehensive reviews of risks and safety plans. When unsupervised custody is awarded to a parent with an abuse history, the court must explain why such an arrangement serves the child’s best interests.

Colorado became the first state to adopt the federal framework in 2023, following a series of tragic incidents where four children were murdered by their fathers after courts allocated parenting time despite findings of domestic violence. Colorado’s law declares that a child’s safety is the first priority of the court in proceedings affecting the child’s care and custody.

Other states including New Mexico are actively considering Kayden’s Law provisions, with advocates pushing for adoption during the 2025-2026 legislative sessions.

Progress in State Legislatures

Multiple states are considering or have recently passed legislation focused on protecting children in custody cases:

“Kayden’s Law” Initiatives – States across the nation are working to adopt legislation inspired by Kayden’s Law, which aims to prevent custody awards to parents with documented histories of abuse and requires courts to prioritize child safety above all other considerations.
Shared Parenting Presumptions – Five states (Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida, and Missouri) have enacted rebuttable presumptions favoring shared parenting arrangements.
Domestic Violence Protections – Enhanced legal frameworks are being developed to better identify and respond to domestic violence in custody proceedings.

The Role of Grassroots Advocacy

Organizations like Expose and Reform Now (EARN), along with One Mom’s Battle, Custody Peace, the National Family Violence Law Center at George Washington University, the National Safe Parents Organization, and the California Protective Parents Association, are mobilizing thousands of survivors and advocates to share their experiences and demand systemic change.

November has been designated as Family Court Awareness Month, bringing together organizations, experts, and elected officials to raise awareness about the need for reform. This movement has gained support from lawmakers across the country who recognize that the current system too often fails to protect the most vulnerable.

Human Rights Concerns

In a historic move, over one hundred mothers submitted a formal complaint to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, denouncing systematic human rights violations against women and children in U.S. family courts. The complaint alleges systemic gender bias, discrimination, and facilitation of various forms of abuse through court processes.

Looking Ahead

As the 2025-2026 legislative sessions progress, advocates remain focused on transforming family court systems to prioritize child safety, ensure due process, and provide meaningful access to justice for protective parents. The combination of grassroots organizing, data-driven research, and strategic legislative advocacy is creating unprecedented momentum for change.

Organizations continue to encourage individuals to:

Share their stories through secure platforms
Contact their state legislators about pending reform bills, including Kayden’s Law adoption
Participate in awareness campaigns and educational initiatives
Support evidence-based policy changes that protect children and families

A Personal Message from Founder Cagney Gaudiz

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to those who have stood alongside us in this critical fight for justice and reform: Miranda W., Destin B., Ashley F., Corey R. L., Jenny & Andrew W., Andrea K., Shannon T., Amy S., Morgan W., Robert D., JoAnna R., TaKisha B., and countless others — your unwavering support, courage, and dedication have been instrumental in both my personal growth and in advancing our mission. May God continue to bless you and your families in your own personal and professional endeavors.

This work is not easy. It requires vulnerability, persistence, and an unshakeable commitment to protecting the vulnerable and holding systems accountable. Each of you has contributed in your own meaningful ways, whether through your support, sharing your own stories, amplifying our message and mission, providing resources, or simply standing firm when others would have given up.

To all the individuals and organizations that have offered continuous support to Expose and Reform Now (EARN), you are the backbone of this movement. Your belief in the possibility of change, your willingness to speak truth to power, and your refusal to let these injustices continue in silence have created ripples of hope across the country. We are so proud of you!

Together, we are building something larger than ourselves. We are creating a future where the silenced are finally heard and believed, where the vulnerable are seen and protected, and where justice is not a privilege but a right.

Thank you for walking this path with us!

With gratitude and determination,

Cagney Gaudiz
Founder, Expose and Reform Now (EARN)

For more information about how you can support justice reform efforts, or to share your story, please contact your local advocacy organizations or visit the websites of national reform groups working in this space.

Resources:

Michigan Legislature: House Bill 5211
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
National Safe Parents Organization: nationalsafeparents.org
Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

Last Updated: January 11, 2026