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Bill

HR 360

CHILDREN: Creates the Task Force on Child Well-Being, Parental Rights, and Family Court Fairness

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kathy Edmonston

Establishes a Task Force to study and recommend reforms for fairness, due process, and consistency in Louisiana family courts’ child custody decisions.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 360

Overview

  • Bill: HR 360
  • Session/Jurisdiction: Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
  • Sponsor: Rep. Edmonston (co-sponsor Kathy Edmonston)
  • Status: Resolution establishing a study Task Force (no direct law enacted yet)

Main purpose and intent

  • Establish the Task Force on Child Well-Being, Parental Bonds, and Family Court Fairness to study how family courts handle child custody, visitation, and parental rights.
  • Focus areas include fairness, transparency, evidence-based decision making, consistency of outcomes, due process protections, and cost burdens of custody litigation.
  • The goal is to determine whether statutory or procedural reforms are needed to improve fairness, consistency, due process, and child well-being in family court proceedings.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation of a Study Body:
    • The Task Force on Child Well-Being, Parental Bonds, and Family Court Fairness (the task force) will study administration of justice in family courts, with emphasis on disparities in custody outcomes.
  • Scope of study:
    • Due process protections for parents.
    • Adequacy of evidentiary standards in custody and visitation determinations, including the impact of ex parte orders (orders issued without notice).
    • The impact of rising custody-litigation costs on families.
  • Composition of the task force:
    • The state representative for House District No. 88 (serves as chair).
    • Two additional House members appointed by the Speaker.
    • One Louisiana Supreme Court justice appointed by the Chief Justice.
    • One practicing family-law attorney appointed by the Louisiana State Bar Association.
    • Four individuals who have experienced family-court litigation, appointed by the task force chair.
    • One member appointed by the Louisiana Family Forum.
  • Operational rules:
    • Majority of the task force constitutes a quorum; decisions require a majority vote.
    • Members serve without compensation, but may receive per diem or expense reimbursement as permitted by their appointing bodies.
    • Meetings governed by Open Meetings Law; records subject to Public Records Law.
    • First meeting by September 15, 2026; subsequent meetings as the chair calls.
  • Timeline and deliverables:
    • Task force to submit a written report with findings, recommendations, and specific legislative proposals to the Louisiana House of Representatives by February 15, 2027.
    • The report must be provided in one print copy and one electronic copy to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library.
    • The task force terminates upon submission of the report or February 15, 2027, whichever occurs first.

Who would be affected

  • Participants in Louisiana family courts (parents, guardians, and children) through potential procedural reforms.
  • Stakeholders in family-law practice (attorneys, judges, bar association members, and affiliated organizations).
  • Public policy and legislators who may pursue recommended reforms based on the task force’s findings.
  • Public (via open meetings and public records) and the media, given transparency requirements.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Appointment deadline: Designees must be submitted by August 15, 2026.
  • Convening deadline: First meeting no later than September 15, 2026.
  • Reporting deadline: Findings and legislative recommendations due by February 15, 2027.
  • Termination: The task force ends when the report is submitted or February 15, 2027, whichever comes first.
  • Meetings: Open to the public; records publicly accessible; no compensation, aside from potential per diem/expenses.

Potential impact

  • Could prompt reforms to improve consistency and fairness in child custody decisions.
  • May influence future statutes or court procedures related to due process, evidentiary standards, and handling of ex parte orders.
  • Addresses concerns about rising costs of custody litigation and their effect on families.
  • Provides a formal, structured process to gather stakeholder input and propose legislative solutions.

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

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