Proposed Family Law Reform Bill
By Derek Di Crescienzo
On January 5, 2026, Congresswoman Dana Trabulsy filed House Bill 971 (“HB 971”). HB 971 requires that at least one judge be available in each judicial circuit court on weekends, holidays, and after hours on weekdays to hear motions to enforce certain orders and agreements. HB 971 additionally requires the chief judge to assign circuit court judges to preside over specific hearings. Moreover, it prioritizes certain time-sharing matters on the court’s docket. When Congresswoman Trabulsy filed this bill she stated, “[t]his bill is about making sure families are not stuck in limbo.” Florida family law courts are significantly backed up, primarily still due to the pandemic-era delays that precipitated six years ago. This means that parties who filed motions for hearings will not have their day in court until potentially four to five months later.
The purpose of HB 971 is to ensure expedited court attention for urgent child-related time-sharing matters while attempting to reduce the backlog of domestic relations cases sitting idle on court dockets. Especially for time-sharing matters, it is crucial that the chief judge prioritize these hearings on the court’s docket. This is due to the fact that if one parent still has time-sharing while allegations arise that the other parent is not acting in the best interest of their child, courts can address the matter expeditiously. The sooner courts hear and rule on these allegations, the sooner they can provide clarity to the concerned parent and promote stability along with a nurturing environment that prioritizes the best interests of the children. Additionally, this can help reduce any long-term trauma a child may experience due to a parent’s inadequate parenting.
On January 12, 2026, HB 971 was referred to the Florida House of Representatives Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee, Justice Budget Subcommittee, and Judiciary Committee. HB 971 was read aloud in the Florida House of Representatives on January 13, 2026. HB 971, however, failed to pass through its assigned committees before the end of the legislative session. The bill was left on the Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee’s desk without receiving a vote. The legislative session ended on March 13, 2026. Trabulsy has yet to make a statement whether she intends to refile HB 971 in the next legislative session.
About the Author:
Derek Di Crescienzo is a Legal Intern at WPL and a third-year student at Ave Maria School of Law. In his role, he supports attorneys with legal research and writing as part of his ongoing legal training. Derek is currently completing his Juris Doctor and continuing to develop his skills in preparation for a career in the legal field.
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