North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 3 R cosponsors

SB 162 — Shared Parenting.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 20% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

16 added · 17 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 162 updates the language regarding custody decisions to emphasize that joint custody and shared parenting are presumed to be in the best interest of the child, except in cases where domestic violence is present. This change reinforces the idea that both parents should be involved in a child's life whenever it's safe to do so, which could promote more balanced parenting arrangements. The removal of redundant phrasing also helps clarify the criteria for custody decisions, making the law easier to understand and apply. Overall, this amendment aims to enhance child welfare by encouraging shared parenting while still prioritizing safety.

→
Previous
Latest
FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Feb 25, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 162 Short Title:
162 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35075-NJ-14 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PRESUMPTION OF JOINT CUSTODY AND SHARED PARENTING.
Rules and Operations of the Senate February 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PRESUMPTION OF JOINT CUSTODY AND SHARED PARENTING.
*DRS35075-NJ-14* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a) An order for custody of a minor child entered pursuant to this section shall award the custody of such child to such person, agency, organization or institution as will best promote the interest and welfare of the child.
*S162-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a) An order for custody of a minor child entered pursuant to this section shall award the custody of such child to such person, agency, organization or institution as will best promote the interest and welfare of the child.
In making the determination, the court shall consider all relevant factors including acts of domestic violence between the parties, the safety of the child, and the safety of either party from domestic violence by the other party.
In makingthe determination, the court shall consider all relevant factors including acts of domestic violence between the parties, the safety of the child, and the safety of either party from domestic violence by the other party.
An order for custody must include written findings of fact that reflect the consideration of each of these factors and that support thedetermination ofwhat is in thebest interest ofthe child.Between theparents, whether natural or adoptive, no presumption shall apply as to who will better promote the interest and welfare of the child.
An order for custody must include written findings of fact that reflect the consideration of each of these factors and that support thedetermination ofwhat is in thebest interest of the child.
Between theparents, whether natural or adoptive, no presumption shall apply as to who will better promote the interest and welfare of the child.
(a1) There exists a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and shared parenting is in the best interest of the child.
(a1) There exists a rebuttable presumption that joint custodyand shared parenting is in the best interest of the child.
(7) A finding by the court that an act of domestic violence has been committed by one of the parties against a child of the party or any other parties.
(7) A finding bythe court that an act of domestic violence has been committed by one of the parties against a child of the party or any other parties.
(1) The court, after consideration of relevant factors under subsection (a1) of this section, finds by clear and convincing evidence that shared parenting and joint custody is not in the best interest of the child.
(1) The court, after consideration of relevant factors under subsection (a1) of this section, finds byclear and convincingevidence that shared parentingand joint custody is not in the best interest of the child.
Page 2 DRS35075-NJ-14 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) One of the parties does not request sole, primary, or joint custody.
Page 2 Senate Bill 162-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) One of the parties does not request sole, primary, or joint custody.
(b) Anorderforcustody ofa minorchildmaygrant joint custodyto theparents, exclusive custody to one person, agency, organization, or institution, or grant custody to two or more persons, agencies, organizations, or institutions.
(b) Anorderforcustodyofa minorchildmaygrant joint custodyto theparents, exclusive custody to one person, agency, organization, or institution, or grant custody to two or more persons, agencies, organizations, or institutions.
If a party is absent or relocates with or without the children because of an act of domestic violence, the absence or relocation shall not be a factor that weighs against the party in determining custody or visitation.
If a partyis absent or relocates with or without the children because of an act of domestic violence, the absence or relocation shall not be a factor that weighs against the party in determining custody or visitation.
DRS35075-NJ-14 Page 3
Senate Bill 162-First Edition Page 3
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 176 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (176)

176 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 176 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 162?
SB 162 is sponsored by Norman W. Sanderson (Republican), Bobby Hanig (Republican), and Dana Jones (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 162?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 162?
Track SB 162 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 162

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 162

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →