Quick stat: Roughly a third of U.S. kids live in single-parent homes. That is millions of children who often lose regular access to one parent. We can do better, and Ohio has a chance to lead.
The goal in plain English
“Equal shared parenting” starts custody cases with a simple premise. Kids do best when they have strong, steady time with both parents, assuming safety. Courts still make best-interest decisions. If equal time is not safe or not best for a child, judges can deviate and explain why.
This is not a rigid formula. It is a starting point that reduces bias, lowers conflict, and keeps the focus on a child’s needs instead of parental tug-of-war.
What is on the table in Ohio right now
House Bill 14 (HB 14). Bipartisan sponsors. Big modernization. The bill would make equal time and shared responsibilities the default framework, then allow courts to adjust based on best interest and safety. HB 14 has received hearings and testimony. It has not passed the House.
Senate Bill 174 (SB 174). Introduced in 2025. This bill organizes cases around parenting plans and directs courts to maximize parenting time with each parent when it is in the child’s best interest. It is not a strict 50/50 presumption. It gives judges clear guardrails, emphasizes safety, and bans gender-based preferences. Referred to Senate Judiciary.
Quick read on both bills
- HB 14: Sets a rebuttable equal-time baseline and shared responsibilities. Promotes clarity and reduces default winner-loser dynamics.
- SB 174: Centers the process on parenting plans, instructs courts to maximize time with each parent where appropriate, and spells out when courts can deviate.
Why this matters for Ohio families
Children thrive with meaningful relationships to both parents when safe. Today, “shared parenting” in practice can still mean one parent gets squeezed to the margins. These reforms realign the starting point with what most families want: steady time with mom and dad, dependable schedules, less drama, and fewer expensive court fights.
For a deeper look at systemic bias, see our post on unmasking bias in family courts.
Other states have moved in this direction. The world did not end. Courts still protect kids. What changed was the baseline. Parents come in knowing that both are expected to show up, plan well, and put the child first.
We’ve also covered the science behind father-child bonds in The Crucial Role of Fathers.
What the bills do — and do not do
They do:
- Put parents on level ground at the start. No preference based on gender or income.
- Keep the best interest of the child at the center, with written findings when a court deviates.
- Encourage clear, specific parenting plans that cover time, decision-making, school and medical logistics, exchanges, and conflict-resolution steps.
They do not:
- Force 50/50 in unsafe situations. Documented risk, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, or neglect, still justifies limits or restrictions.
- Eliminate judicial discretion. Judges can and should deviate if equal time is not in the child’s best interest.
- Override Ohio’s best-interest framework. They clarify how courts apply it, and how parents present plans that the court can adopt.
Where things stand right now (as of August 9, 2025)
- HB 14: In House committees with testimony taken. No floor vote yet.
- SB 174: In Senate Judiciary. Official analyses are available. Hearings are expected as the General Assembly calendar advances.
Translation: The debate is active. Lawmakers are listening. Your voice matters.
Common concerns, answered
“Won’t a presumption tie judges’ hands?”
No. A presumption just sets the starting line. Courts still examine the facts and can deviate. The difference is transparency. If a court moves away from equal time, it explains why in writing. That clarity helps families and reduces endless litigation.
“Does shared parenting always mean 50/50?”
Not today. Under current practice, “shared parenting” can still leave one parent with much less time. Reform aims to align the label with outcomes. The goal is substantial and consistent time with each parent, then tailor for school, distance, work, and safety.
“What about unsafe homes or high conflict?”
Safety comes first. Evidence of abuse, coercive control, ongoing addiction, or serious instability justifies restrictions, supervised time, or no contact. Equal shared parenting is rebuttable, not automatic. It protects kids while discouraging gamesmanship that sidelines healthy parents.
The bigger picture: kids, stability, and both parents
Ohio families spend too much time and money fighting over schedules that a better default could solve. When both parents know the court expects strong involvement from each, they plan better. They exchange information. They invest in routines. Kids feel the difference.
Think about what children remember. They remember who picked them up, who packed lunches, who went to conferences, who read bedtime stories, and who showed up for the Saturday game. Policy should support those moments with both parents whenever safe. That is what equal shared parenting is built to do.
How to move the needle this week
If you are a parent or ally, here is your simple playbook. Keep it short, respectful, and persistent.
- Call your State Representative and State Senator. Ask for movement on HB 14 and SB 174. Give your name, address, and ZIP. One minute is enough.
- Email one page of testimony. Lead with your child’s needs. Explain how consistent time with both parents improves school, behavior, and stability. Keep it practical.
- Bring a plan, not just passion. Draft a parenting plan: school pickups, exchanges, medical decision-making, communication rules, and a simple conflict-resolution step. Judges approve specifics.
- Use Ohio’s language. Frame everything around the best interest of the child, safety, and stability. Avoid mudslinging. Offer solutions.
- Point to real-world practice. Other states have moved toward equal shared parenting with strong safety carve-outs. It is workable and it helps families.
Pro tip for testimony: Start with a child-first statement, offer your calendar, and propose a communication protocol.
Need a tactical roadmap? See Empowering Fathers: Winning Strategies for Custody Battles.
End with a clear ask: “Please support HB 14 and SB 174 so my child can have steady time with both parents, with safety protected.”
What Fathers for Fair Custody supports
- A rebuttable equal-time starting point for fit parents.
- Written best-interest findings for any deviation.
- Safety first with firm domestic-violence protections.
- No gender preferences in time or decision-making.
- Clear parenting plans that reduce conflict and guesswork.
Bottom line
Ohio has momentum and two bills that move the needle. HB 14 sets a clear equal-time presumption. SB 174 modernizes the process and directs courts to maximize parenting time with each parent when it serves a child’s best interest. Either path is a step toward a future where children do not lose a parent because the parents separate.
The law should reflect the reality that healthy families already know. Kids need both parents. Courts should start there, then tailor for safety and fit.
Want proof equal time works? Read Fridays with Fathers: Unlock the Power of Shared Custody.
Take action now
- Call or email your State Representative and State Senator today.
- Send one page of written testimony tied to your child’s needs.
- Share this article with a parent who needs it.
- Join our email list to hear alerts and sample testimony you can copy.
Let’s get this done for Ohio’s kids.