104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2710
 
Introduced 10/14/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
750 ILCS 5/610.7 new
    Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in consultation with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, to conduct a comprehensive study on parenting-time presumptions in child custody proceedings. Provides that the study examine how statutory presumptions and judicial practices affect fairness, parental involvement, and child outcomes in custody cases. Requires that the review pay particular attention to ensuring that both parents, regardless of gender, are given equitable opportunities to maintain meaningful relationships with their children. Requires that the Department submit a final report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than December 31, 2026 and include findings, recommendations, and potential statutory language to update Illinois law. Repeals the Act on December 31, 2027.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of 
5Marriage Act is amended by adding Section 610.7 as follows:
 
6    (750 ILCS 5/610.7 new)
7    Sec. 610.7. Study on parenting-time presumptions.
8    (a) Creation of study. The Department of Healthcare and 
9Family Services, in consultation with the Administrative 
10Office of the Illinois Courts, shall conduct a comprehensive 
11study on parenting-time presumptions in child custody 
12proceedings.
13    (b) Purpose. The study shall examine how statutory 
14presumptions and judicial practices affect fairness, parental 
15involvement, and child outcomes in custody cases. The review 
16shall pay particular attention to ensuring that both parents, 
17regardless of gender, are given equitable opportunities to 
18maintain meaningful relationships with their children.
19    (c) Scope of study. The study shall include, but not be 
20limited to, the following components:
21        (1) A review of other states parenting-time 
22presumptions, including but not limited to: the presumptions 
23outlined in the laws of Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, 
 
 
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1Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington;
2        (2) An impact analysis that compare outcomes for 
3children, parental satisfaction, litigation rates, and 
4financial equity across states with presumptive shared 
5parenting versus states without such provisions;
6        (3) An assessment of how Illinois' current statutory 
7framework measures against national trends, and whether the 
8current reliance on "overnight counts" creates inequities; and
9        (4) Policy recommendations that identify whether 
10Illinois should consider adopting a presumption of equal 
11parenting time (50/50) or an 8-hour parenting time equivalency 
12standard to prevent financial and legal disparities between 
13parents.
14    (d) Stakeholder input. The Department shall solicit input 
15from family law practitioners, judges, parent advocacy groups, 
16child welfare experts, and parents with lived experience.
17    (e) Report. The Department shall submit a final report to 
18the General Assembly and the Governor no later than December 
1931, 2026. The report shall include findings, recommendations, 
20and potential statutory language to update Illinois law.
21    (f) Repeal. This Section is repealed on December 31, 2027.