Area lawmakers weigh in on shared parenting law

Southeast Missouri Republican lawmakers were united in their support last month of the so-called "shared parenting" bill.

Both houses passed the measure overwhelmingly: 114-9 in the state House and 30-4 in the Senate.

The Show Me State thus became the fifth state to greenlight such legislation.

Kentucky, Arkansas and West Virginia each adopted "50/50" parenting laws over the last five years, while Florida's Legislature gave final approval to such a bill on the same day as Missouri.

Particulars

Assuming Gov. Mike Parson signs the bill, the legislation would change Missouri law by requiring judges to start each child custody case with the presumption that "equal or approximately equal" parenting time for each parent is in the child's best interests.