HF5065

Purpose

• Provide funding for a one-time study of how Minnesota child custody and parenting time decisions are made and their outcomes for children within the state’s family law system.

Main Provisions

• A one-time appropriation of 25,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The money is for a grant to the National Parents Organization to study Minnesota child custody and parenting time outcomes through the judicial system.
• The study must review court files in family law cases involving divorce, custody, parenting time, and paternity.
• The National Parents Organization must prepare and submit a report with findings from examining and analyzing the reviewed court files. The report should include outcomes for children in custody and parenting time cases and should offer suggestions for legislation to improve outcomes for Minnesota families.
• The report must be delivered to the Supreme Court and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over judiciary and civil law by December 31, 2026.
• This is a one-time appropriation; the funds are dedicated solely to this study.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• No direct changes to Minnesota law are enacted by this bill. It creates a one-time funding mechanism for a study and requires a forthcoming report with legislative recommendations.

Implementation & Oversight

• Oversight and administration are handled through the Minnesota Supreme Court, which must oversee the grant to the National Parents Organization and ensure the study is completed and the report submitted by the deadline.

Summary in Plain Terms

• The state would give 25,000 to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2027 to fund a study by the National Parents Organization.
• The study will look at how child custody, parenting time, divorce, and paternity cases are handled in court and what outcomes they produce for children.
• A detailed report with findings and recommended legislation to improve family outcomes must be submitted by December 31, 2026 to the Supreme Court and to lawmakers overseeing judiciary matters.

Relevant Terms - child custody - parenting time - family law - divorce - paternity - court files - judicial system - outcomes for children - National Parents Organization - Minnesota Supreme Court - general fund - appropriation - one-time - report - legislation to improve outcomes - Minnesota