SB159 Summary

• Prohibits courts from entering final custody modification orders while a custodial military parent is deployed or unavailable due to military service.

• Establishes that past, current, or future military absences cannot be the sole basis for altering existing custody orders; the non-absent parent bears the burden of proof for any permanent modification.

• Requires courts to enter temporary custody modification orders upon motion if a deploying parent's absence materially affects their parental rights, with automatic return to pre-deployment arrangements after a transition period following deployment.

• Allows deploying parents to delegate visitation rights to family members or other designated persons during deployment and permits testimony by electronic means (telephone or video) for parents unable to appear in court.

• Requires military parents to provide 14 days' written notice of deployment to the non-deploying parent and mandates expedited court hearings for service members with imminent deployments who lack existing custody orders.