Lawmakers hear broad family‑law package, from custody standards to interstate jurisdiction and protections for disabled parents

The Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard a broad set of family‑law proposals Tuesday, ranging from bills to strengthen juvenile‑court authority in child‑welfare cases to efforts to change custody standards and to modernize interstate custody jurisdiction.

Deputy Chief Counsel Daniel Mahoney of the Committee for Public Counsel Services urged support for House Bill H1885, which he said would allow juvenile courts to make orders in a child's best interest and revisit custody and related issues at appropriate intervals during care and protection proceedings. "Vulnerable children in foster care, our clients deserve better," Mahoney said, arguing the bill would give juvenile judges the same authority that probate and family judges exercise.

Senator Joan Lovely and disability advocates supported S1164, a bill they described as prohibiting…