Rep. Baham’s bill to define how courts measure the 75‑mile relocation limit advances

Representative Baham’s HB112, which would specify how the statutory 75‑mile relocation distance is measured for child‑custody relocations, was reported favorably by the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee on March 10, 2026.

Baham said the bill removes judicial ambiguity about whether the 75‑mile limit is measured radially (as the crow flies), by the shortest driving route or by the fastest route. "I think it's for everyone's interests, the mother, the father and certainly the children," Baham said, urging the committee to move the bill to the floor.

Claire McCrary Jacobs, a witness who worked with the sponsor, described moving from Zachary to Covington and said different routing methods produced different mileages. "I won my case, but there should never have to be a case to begin with," Jacobs said, adding that she spent about $5,000 on legal fees and printouts of Google Maps, MapQuest and Waze to prove the route she used was under 75 miles. She urged a uniform definition such as using any surface‑road route between points to eliminate judicial inconsistency.

Committee members asked clarifying questions but did not press for additional amendments at the hearing. Representative Carlson moved to report the bill favorably; Representative Edmondson seconded. The chair called for objections and, seeing none, HB112 was reported favorably to the House floor.

The committee noted one witness card in support (Claire McCrary Jacobs). The measure will proceed to the next House stage.