A bill for an act relating to the establishment or modification of legal custody of a child.

This bill (HSB 164) updates Iowa's child custody laws by allowing courts to assign parents separate rights and responsibilities under joint legal custody when it serves the child's best interest. It defines the "established custodial environment" as the child's stable living situation with a parent or caregiver, including physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Courts must evaluate proposed custody changes from the child's perspective, requiring clear and convincing evidence if the change would disrupt this environment, or a "more likely than not" standard otherwise. Both parents retain legal access to child-related information under this arrangement. The bill applies specifically to custody disputes arising from divorce proceedings.