The North Dakota Legislature has approved a bill, Senate Bill 2186, aimed at addressing child custody violations between separated or divorced parents. The bill allows for additional parenting time to be granted by the court if one parent intentionally interferes with the other parent’s court-ordered parenting time. Failure to comply with the court order could result in contempt of court charges.
Originally, the legislation included a provision to make custody violations a criminal charge, but this was removed due to concerns raised by law enforcement. Instead, the bill now establishes a 12-member child custody review task force to study new ways to address these violations. The task force will meet quarterly during the 2025-27 interim and will include members from various backgrounds involved in the custody process.
The bill passed the Senate with a 27-20 vote and now awaits final approval from the governor. Some senators expressed concerns about the Legislature intervening in such individualized matters, but supporters believe the bill will help alleviate disputes and ensure children receive appropriate care from both parents.
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