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FL H0607
Bill
Status
Failed
6/16/2025
Primary Sponsor
Doug Bankson
Click for details
AI Summary
- Expands grandparent visitation rights by adding a new category: a grandparent may petition for court-ordered visitation when one parent is deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state, provided the child lived with the grandparent for at least 6 months in the preceding 12 months, did not live with the surviving parent during that period, and eliminating contact would pose a substantial threat of harm to the child's well-being
- Retains existing rights for grandparents to petition when both parents are deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state, or when one parent meets those criteria and the other has been convicted of a felony or violent offense threatening the child
- Requires a preliminary hearing to determine prima facie evidence of parental unfitness or significant harm; absent such showing, the court must dismiss the petition and may award attorney fees and costs to the respondent
- Courts must find by clear and convincing evidence that a parent is unfit or the child faces significant harm, that visitation serves the child's best interests, and that visitation will not materially harm the parent-child relationship before awarding grandparent visitation
- Effective date is July 1, 2025
Legislative Description
Grandparent Visitation Rights
Last Action
Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
6/16/2025
Committee Referrals
Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee2/19/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available