provide a rebuttable presumption in favor of joint physical custody of a minor child.

SB 172 establishes a legal presumption that joint physical custody is in the best interest of a minor child during custody disputes. This means courts will generally start with the assumption that both parents should share physical care of the child unless one parent can prove that shared custody would be harmful. The bill directly affects parents involved in custody cases by shifting the initial burden of proof to the parent opposing joint custody. This change aims to promote shared parenting arrangements while still allowing exceptions when joint custody would not serve the child's welfare.