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Senate committee adopts striker and sends parenting-limits bill to rules after heated debate on domestic‑violence protections
Summary
The Law and Justice Committee voted to adopt a striking amendment to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 16-20, reverting language toward the House version, and recommended the bill to the rules committee after extended debate about protections for survivors of gender‑based violence, judicial training and enforceability of disparagement provisions.
The Senate Law and Justice Committee on March 20 adopted a striking amendment to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 16-20, which changes statutory criteria and procedures for limiting parenting time and imposing restraints in family law cases, and recommended the bill to the Rules Committee.
Committee members said the bill aims to provide clearer standards and written findings of fact for judges handling parenting‑plan disputes that involve domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. Supporters described the changes as steps to improve access to justice for pro se survivors and to make judicial decisions easier to review on appeal.
Senator Torres said the legislation was intended to make statutes more consistent with national guidance and to provide judges with clearer obligations. “My favorite part about this bill is recognizing that our judicial system now has to do written findings of fact,” the senator said, adding that findings create a record for training and appeals.
Opponents and several senators expressed concern the adopted striker rolled back work done in the House and that some survivors and experts felt the new language was not the proper baseline. Senator Fortunato said she opposed making hate crimes a separate offense in other legislation earlier and urged caution on this bill’s changes as well. Senator Wagner and others raised questions about specific provisions, including a disparagement prohibition and whether some language could be weaponized against survivors in custody disputes.
Committee debate included several failed amendment attempts. Senator Fortunato offered amendments that would have (1) narrowed or clarified the scope of “accepted” conduct and (2) created a work group to study restrictions and parenting plans; both failed on the floor. Committee members discussed creating a future study or proviso to fund and define a work group, with some members asking for a fiscal note and clearer participant lists before moving forward.
Senator Trudeau and other members acknowledged painful testimony from survivors and said that while this bill would not solve every problem in family law, it represents an incremental step. Senators who supported the striker noted it reflected policy committee work and changes made during interchamber negotiations over the last three years.
On final passage the committee adopted the striking amendment and, by voice vote, recommended Engrossed Substitute House Bill 16-20 receive a “do pass” recommendation to the Rules Committee. The transcript records a voice vote only; no recorded roll‑call tally was provided in committee minutes.
The bill’s proponents emphasized judicial training and trauma‑informed decisionmaking as necessary complements to statutory change. Opponents requested further engagement with survivors, practitioners and domestic‑violence experts before floor action.
The committee sent the bill to the Rules Committee subject to signatures.
