Bill
HB 1704
Arkansas bill shields custody/visitation for mobilized military and first responders; courts may grant temporary modifications to maximize the child's time with the parent.
Note on source material
- The documents you provided appear to contain fragments of multiple different "HB 1704" bills from different jurisdictions (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana) and on different subjects (child custody, State Finance transfers, vehicle/general provisions). The bill title you listed at the top ("Bonds; authorize issuance to assist Pike County with a bridge project") is not matched by any of the text fragments included.
- Below I summarize the clearest substantive text included in the materials — an Arkansas amendment addressing child custody where a parent is a member of the armed forces or a first responder — and then note the other fragments and the unresolved status/metadata issues.
1) Primary substantive text in the file — Arkansas: child custody where a parent is mobilized or is a first responder
- Purpose and intent
- To amend Arkansas Code § 9-13-110 to protect the custody and visitation rights of parents who are mobilized members of the armed forces and to extend similar consideration to parents who are first responders.
- Key provisions and changes
- Definitions:
- “Armed forces” is defined to include National Guard, U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, reserves, and auxiliaries.
- “First responder” is defined to include firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and certified law enforcement officers.
- “Mobilized parent” means a parent who is a member of the armed forces and is called to active duty or receives orders for duty outside the state or country.
- Court restrictions:
- A court shall not permanently modify custody or visitation orders solely because a parent is a mobilized parent or based solely on a parent's work schedule as a first responder.
- Temporary modifications:
- A court shall determine whether a temporary modification to custody or visitation is appropriate for a mobilized parent or a first responder parent.
- When considering temporary modifications for mobilized parents, the court must consider factors to maximize the mobilized parent’s time and contact with the child consistent with the child’s best interest. Listed factors include:
- length of the mobilized parent’s call to active duty;
- duty station(s);
- opportunity for contact during leave/pass/authorized absences;
- prior contact with the child before mobilization;
- nature of the military mission (if known);
- any other factors deemed appropriate.
- The same standard—consideration of circumstances necessary to maximize time and contact consistent with the child's best interest—applies to parents who are first responders.
- Preservation of court authority:
- The section does not limit a court’s ability to permanently modify custody if a parent volunteers for permanent military duty as a career choice.
- Who is affected
- Parents subject to Arkansas custody and visitation orders who are mobilized military members or who work as defined first responders, and their children.
- Family courts in Arkansas making temporary or permanent custody/visitation decisions.
- Procedural/timeline aspects
- The text appears as an engrossed version dated March 13, 2025. Sponsors shown include Representative Andrews and Senator A. Clark (cosponsor). The document shows an Amendment H1 adopting clarifying edits.
- The document indicates this measure was part of the 95th Arkansas General Assembly Regular Session (2025).
- No final enactment status for this Arkansas text is conclusively provided in your packet.
2) Other material present in the packet (not summarized in detail)
- An Illinois bill fragment (also labeled HB 1704) amending the State Finance Act (30 ILCS 105/6z-27) directing transfers from many funds into an Audit Expense Fund — a long line-item list appears but is truncated.
- An Indiana bill fragment (HB 1704) with boilerplate about amending the Indiana Code (effective July 1, 2025).
- Mixed and inconsistent legislative actions and dates (e.g., “Died In Committee” vs. entries showing passage, enrollment, Act numbers), and multiple sponsors (A. Clark, Andrews, Fred Crespo) that reflect the different jurisdictions.
Conclusion and recommended next steps
- The clearest, actionable substantive bill text in your materials is the Arkansas custody amendment protecting mobilized military parents and first responders. If you want a focused, authoritative summary or analysis (impact, fiscal note, comparison with current law) for that Arkansas bill, please confirm the state and provide the final bill text/version you want analyzed.
- If instead you intended the bond/bridge bill for Pike County (title at top) or one of the Illinois/Indiana HB 1704s, please supply the specific text or indicate the correct state so I can prepare an accurate summary tailored to that bill.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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