Bill > H0971

This bill aims to improve the efficiency and accessibility of family law courts in Florida by ensuring judges are available for urgent matters and by prioritizing certain child-related hearings. Specifically, it mandates that at least one judge in each judicial circuit must be available on weekends, holidays, and after regular weekday hours to hear motions to enforce time-sharing orders or agreements, which are court-ordered schedules for when each parent spends time with their child. The chief judge of each circuit will be responsible for assigning a judge for these critical hearings. The bill also requires that initial hearings for temporary parental responsibility and time-sharing schedules, as well as hearings to enforce existing time-sharing orders, be given priority on court calendars. For initial temporary parenting plans, parents must submit their proposals, and any agreed-upon portions will be adopted immediately, with contested issues to be heard within 30 days. Furthermore, the bill removes provisions that previously presumed one parent would automatically receive all time-sharing and sole parental responsibility under certain circumstances in paternity cases, instead requiring courts to issue appropriate parenting plans upon a party's motion.

Justice

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/971