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Bill

HD 2290

An Act relative to parental visitation and custody for children of rape victims

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Alyson Sullivan-Almeida

Prevents individuals convicted of rape from exercising parental custody or visitation rights for children resulting from those crimes.

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Bill Summary · HD 2290

Legislative bill overview

HD 2290 would establish legal protections for children born from rape by restricting parental rights and visitation for individuals convicted of rape when a child results from that crime. The bill aims to prevent convicted rapists from using custody or visitation as a mechanism to maintain control over or contact victims.

Why is this important

Children born from sexual assault represent a sensitive intersection of family law and criminal justice. Currently, rapists may retain parental rights, forcing victims to undergo ongoing legal contact with their assailant through custody disputes and visitation arrangements. This bill addresses a gap where victims may face re-traumatization through the family court system.

Potential points of contention

  • Parental rights vs. child welfare: Questions about whether denying parental rights serves the child's best interest if the convicted parent seeks genuine relationship, or whether it primarily protects the victim
  • Legal due process: Concerns about whether restricting rights based on conviction type sets precedent for other crime-based parental right restrictions, and procedural fairness standards
  • Implementation details: The bill's specificity regarding which convictions trigger restrictions, whether DNA relationship must be proven, and what "visitation restrictions" entail are critical but typically require regulatory guidance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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