DE HB418

Establishes a "Military Parents' Rights Act" creating substantive rights and procedural protections for service members in custody proceedings when deployed or mobilized.

Designates any custody, residential placement, or visitation orders entered during a military parent's deployment as interim orders that may be modified upon return to the United States, with no final modification allowed until 90 days after deployment unless agreed to by the military parent.

Prohibits a military parent's deployment, absence, or potential for future deployment from being the sole basis for modifying custody, residential placement, or visitation rights.

Allows temporary modification of custody orders during deployment on an expedited basis, including provisions for transition schedules to return to pre-deployment arrangements and delegation of visitation rights to family members or caregivers if in the child's best interest.

Permits military parents to provide testimony and evidence by electronic means (telephone or videoconference) when deployment prevents in-person court appearance and requires both parents to cooperate and disclose information regarding the deployment.