Dear Esteemed Members of the House Judiciary Committee- 

I urge you to vote NO on HB1131 | SB1331. This legislation will harm thousands of children and negatively impact every public sector in Tennessee. Tennessee’s existing gender-neutral law prioritizes the child’s best interests, allowing for shared custody without the  mandatory presumption model of HB1131/SB1331. 

While the bill may seem beneficial at first glance, it poses significant dangers when viewed through the lens of domestic violence and child abuse. Evidence-based research indicates that the bill represents poor public policy, endangering children, increasing the burden on judicial and DCS systems, and exacerbating issues such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), mental health challenges, addiction, and fatalities. 

Proponents’ of 50/50 presumption bills, such as HB1131, misrepresent court data-by pulling custody arrangements as a whole, but not delineating which ones are agreed upon then court ordered vs which ones required judicial intervention and not referencing our own State of the Child Report- which showed 54% of child abuse perpetrators were a parent, and 80% of child abuse victims had prior contact with DCS-in Tennessee. This underscores how hard it is to criminally prosecute perpetrators for abuse if they are a parent. 

Please stand with Tennessee’s children and vote NO on HB1131 | SB1331. Their safety and well-being depend on it. Thank you for your time and consideration.