summary
Introduced
01/08/2026
01/08/2026
In Committee
02/16/2026
02/16/2026
Crossed Over
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Amend Section 93-5-24, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Create A Rebuttable Presumption In Favor Of Joint Custody With Equal Parenting Time In All Custody Matters; To Provide That The Presumption Shall Be Rebuttable By A Preponderance Of The Evidence; To Provide That A Court Shall Consider The Safety And Well-being Of The Parties And Children; To Provide That The Presumption That Joint Custody And Equally Shared Parenting Time Is In The Best Interest Of The Child Shall Not Apply If A Domestic Abuse Protection Order Is Being Or Has Been Entered Against A Party By Another Party Or On Behalf Of A Child At Issue In The Custody Hearing; To Require A Court To Document The Reasons From Deviating From The Presumption Unless Both Parents Petition For A Deviation; To Clarify That This Section Shall Apply To All Custody Determinations; To Provide For The Calculation Of Child Support Where The Court Awards Joint Custody With Equally Shared Parenting Time; To Amend Section 43-19-101, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption in Mississippi that joint custody with equal parenting time is in the best interest of a child in all custody matters, meaning courts will generally assume this arrangement is best unless proven otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. The bill specifies that courts must consider the safety and well-being of all parties involved and that this presumption does not apply if a domestic abuse protection order has been issued against a parent. If a court deviates from this presumption, it must document its reasons unless both parents agree to the deviation. The bill also clarifies that it applies to all custody determinations, regardless of whether the parents were married, and includes provisions for calculating child support in cases of joint custody with equally shared parenting time, aligning with existing child support guidelines.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred To Judiciary A (on 02/16/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2027.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/SB/2001-2099/SB2027PS.htm |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/SB/2001-2099/SB2027IN.htm |
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