2025 House Bill 5213

Family law: child custody; information on the presumption of equal or approximately equal parenting time; require the friend of the court to provide.

A bill to amend 1982 PA 294, entitled “Friend of the court act,” by amending section 5 (MCL 552.505), as amended by 2009 PA 233.

Official record

AI Analysis – Experimental

House Bills 5211–5213 would create a presumption of joint custody and equal parenting time in Michigan, require courts to justify any deviation from that standard, strengthen protections in cases involving sexual offenses, and update related procedures in the Child Custody Act and Friend of the Court Act, all contingent on the passage of accompanying legislation.

Introduced in the House

Nov. 4, 2025

Introduced by Rep. Brian BeGole (R-71) and 24 co-sponsors

Co-sponsored by Reps. Gina Johnsen (R-78), Ron Robinson (R-58), Luke Meerman (R-89), Kimberly Edwards (D-12), John Roth (R-104), David Prestin (R-108), Doug Wozniak (R-59), Mike Harris (R-52), Gregory Alexander (R-98), Jaime Greene (R-65), Cameron Cavitt (R-106), Greg Markkanen (R-110), Karl Bohnak (R-109), Brad Paquette (R-37), Jay DeBoyer (R-63), Jamie Thompson (R-28), Rylee Linting (R-27), Brenda Carter (D-53), Timothy Beson (R-96), Noah Arbit (D-20), Joey Andrews (D-38), Amos O’Neal (D-94), Cynthia Neeley (D-70) and Helena Scott (D-8)

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary