Petition Launched Urging Vote on Flick’s Child Custody Legislation
HARRISBURG –Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union) today announced a petition has started to urge a vote on his child custody legislation,
House Bill 1499, which would ensure fairness in custody determinations during divorce proceedings and protect the rights of children to have equal access to both parents, provided they are willing and fit.
The petition was started by a group of respected advocates, including the Dads’ Resource Center and National Parents Organization among others, all of whom advocate for fairness in custody determinations and contend that children need the stability, support and sustained involvement of both parents in their lives whenever possible.
“Momentum for my legislation, House Bill 1499, has been growing rapidly,” Flick said. “The fact that there are several parent-focused groups who have started a petition is a clear sign of how important this issue is to families across Pennsylvania.”
The petition has already gathered more than 1,500 signatures.
Flick introduced House Bill 1499 after his own experience in family court. He has spent years seeking equal custody in an unjust system. He also organized a milestone day for child custody reform in Pennsylvania on Nov. 18, 2025. The event brought together legislators, supporters, legal experts, family advocates, parents, grandparents and former lawmakers for a Policy Committee hearing and press conference.
Jeffrey Steiner, executive director of the Dads’ Resource Center, was at the state Capitol on Nov. 18 and helped start the petition. He said 85% of Pennsylvanians support a change in law that creates a rebuttable presumption that shared parenting is in the best interest of a child after parental separation.
“Research shows children have the best chances to succeed when both parents remain actively involved throughout their childhood,” Steiner said. “House Bill 1499 works on behalf of children by creating a more balanced and child-focused starting point in contested custody cases.”
Robert Garza, the vice president of National Family Justice and a nationally recognized advocate for children and parental rights, said he wanted to help launch the petition because of his work with families across the country.
“This is not just a bill, it’s a movement to make sure no child loses a parent without cause,” Garza said. “The best support for a child is both parents.”
Dan Hubin, board chair with National Parents Organization, said children do better when both parents remain actively involved in their lives.
“The most important thing lawmakers can do for Pennsylvania children is to ensure that parents’ separation doesn’t deprive them of a full relationship with one of their parents,” Hubin said. “And this doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.”
House Bill 1499 is currently stalled in the House Judiciary Committee despite recent attention on the issue.
“It’s my hope the petition will encourage Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery), who is the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, to bring the bill up for a vote,” Flick said. “Getting the bill a vote in committee is a key step in the process. If the bill is approved in committee, it would advance to a vote on the House floor.”
Similar legislation has already passed in Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Florida and Missouri.
Representative Jamie Flick
83rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andrew Forgotch
717-772-9905
aforgotch@pahousegop.com
RepFlick.com