An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child custody, further providing for factors to consider when awarding custody.
HB 378 amends Pennsylvania's child custody laws by adding new factors judges must consider when determining custody arrangements. The bill explicitly requires courts to weigh specific elements, such as the child's adjustment to home, school, and community, alongside existing considerations. This change directly affects judges presiding over custody cases and parents involved in those proceedings. The law became effective immediately upon the governor's approval on June 30, 2025 (Act No. 11 of 2025).
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 28, 2025
Signed Jun 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Printer's No. PN0334
→
Printer's No. PN1599
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the list of factors judges must consider when deciding child custody cases. It expands the definition of abuse to include protection orders and clarifies that a child's negative relationship with a parent is not automatically blamed on the other parent. Additionally, it requires courts to provide parents with a list of these custody factors within 30 days of filing a custody case.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of the custody analysis by broadening the definition of abuse to include individuals in a party's household and protection orders, and it adds a procedural requirement for courts to distribute custody factor lists to parties early in the process.
REQUIREMENT
The definition of abuse in custody cases now explicitly includes past or current protection from abuse or sexual violence protection orders where a finding of abuse was made.
The bill clarifies that a child's deficient or negative relationship with one party cannot be presumed to be caused by the other party.
Courts must provide all parties with a copy of the custody factors section within 30 days of receiving a custody complaint, petition for modification, or intervention petition.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 26, 2025 · House May 5, 2025
How they voted
50–0
Passed
Total votes 50
Jun 26, 2025
D
Democratic23
100% Yea
R
Republican27
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
7
Committee
6
Jun 30, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
upper
Jun 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
May 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
May 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (203-0)
house
May 5, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 19 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Liz Hanbidge
DDemocratic
Co
Aerion Abney
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Sanchez
DDemocratic
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
Danielle Otten
DDemocratic
Co
Danilo Burgos
DDemocratic
Co
Jenn O'Mara
DDemocratic
Co
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
DDemocratic
Co
JG
José Giral
DDemocratic
Co
Justin Fleming
DDemocratic
Co
Keith Harris
DDemocratic
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