family court; admissibility; evidence

HB 2968 changes how family courts handle evidence in cases involving child custody or parenting time. It requires courts to admit relevant evidence about a child’s safety, well-being, trauma, or expressed wishes, as well as evidence about parent behavior, regardless of its format or whether it fits traditional "hearsay" rules. The bill mandates that criminal records of parents must be admitted in these cases and requires courts to make written findings on evidence relevance and credibility, with failure to do so being grounds for appeal. It also ensures both parents can submit evidence equally, and courts cannot allow one parent to present evidence more freely than the other without immediate appeal rights. This directly affects family courts, parents in custody disputes, and children’s safety considerations in legal decisions.