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Bill

SB 1174

DEPLOYED PARENT CUSTODY/VISIT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mike Porfirio and 1 co-sponsor

SB 1174 protects military parents' custody and visitation rights during deployment, preventing automatic custody loss due to military service obligations.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1174

Legislative bill overview

SB 1174 addresses custody and visitation rights for parents deployed in military service. The bill establishes legal frameworks to protect parental relationships when a service member is deployed, ensuring deployed parents can maintain contact with their children and preventing custody modifications based solely on deployment status.

Why is this important

Military deployment creates significant family disruptions, and without legal protections, deployed parents risk losing custody or visitation rights by default. This bill addresses a real gap in family law that affects thousands of Illinois military families, balancing national security needs with fundamental parental rights and child welfare.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of "deployment": Unclear whether the bill covers all military absences or only combat deployments, potentially creating disputes over which absences qualify for protection
  • Enforcement mechanisms: The bill may lack clear enforcement procedures if the non-deployed parent violates visitation rights during deployment, leaving remedies ambiguous
  • Retroactivity and existing cases: Questions about whether protections apply to ongoing custody cases or only new cases filed after passage
  • Balancing parental rights with child stability: Potential tension between maintaining deployed parent contact and protecting children from disruption during family transitions

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

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