Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/13/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1704
4
5 By: Representative Andrews
6 By: Senator A. Clark
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING CHILD CUSTODY IN
10 MATTERS WHERE A PARENT IS A FIRST RESPONDER; AND FOR
11 OTHER PURPOSES.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING CHILD CUSTODY
16 IN MATTERS WHERE A PARENT IS A FIRST
17 RESPONDER.
18
19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
20
21 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 9-13-110 is amended to read as follows:
22 9-13-110. Parents who are members of armed forces or are first
23 responders -- Definitions.
24 (a) As used in this section:
25 (1) "Armed forces" means the National Guard and the reserve
26 components of the armed forces, the United States Army, the United States
27 Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, the
28 United States Air Force, and any other branch of the military and naval
29 forces or auxiliaries of the United States or Arkansas; and
30 (2) "First responder" means a firefighter, emergency medical
31 technician, paramedic, or a certified law enforcement officer; and
32 (2)(3) "Mobilized parent" means a parent who:
33 (A) Is a member of the armed forces; and
34 (B) Is called to active duty or receives orders for duty
35 that is outside the state or country.
36 (b) A court shall not permanently modify an order for child custody or
*LJH189* 03-13-2025 10:09:57 LJH189
As Engrossed: H3/13/25 HB1704
1 visitation solely on the basis that one (1) of the parents is a mobilized
2 parent or based upon the work schedule of a parent who is a first responder.
3 (c)(1) A court of competent jurisdiction shall determine whether a
4 temporary modification to an order for child custody or visitation is
5 appropriate for a child or children of a mobilized parent or a parent who is
6 a first responder.
7 (2)(A) The determination under this subsection (c) includes
8 consideration of any and all circumstances that are necessary to maximize the
9 mobilized parent's time and contact a mobilized parent has with his or her
10 child that is consistent with the best interest of the child, including
11 without limitation:
12 (A)(1) The ordered length of the mobilized parent's call
13 to active duty;
14 (B)(2) The mobilized parent's duty station or stations;
15 (C)(3) The opportunity that the mobilized parent will have
16 for contact with the child through a leave, a pass, or other authorized
17 absence from duty;
18 (D)(4) The contact that the mobilized parent has had with
19 the child before the call to active military duty;
20 (E)(5) The nature of the military mission, if known; and
21 (F)(6) Any other factor that the court deems appropriate
22 under the circumstances.
23 (B) The determination under this subsection includes
24 consideration of any circumstances that are necessary to maximize the time
25 and contact a parent who is a first responder has with his or her child that
26 is consistent with the best interest of the child.
27 (d) This section shall not limit the power of a court of competent
28 jurisdiction to permanently modify an order of child custody or visitation in
29 the event that a parent volunteers for permanent military duty as a career
30 choice regardless of whether the parent volunteered for permanent military
31 duty while a member of the armed forces.
32
33 /s/Andrews
34
35
36
2 03-13-2025 10:09:57 LJH189Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.