Rep. Cervania files bill in North Carolina House to mandate training in child custody cases

A new bill filed by State Rep. Maria Cervania seeks to ensure court personnel receive specialized training to better handle cases involving domestic violence and child abuse, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 896 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Jesse’s Law.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, known as “Jesse’s Law,” aims to ensure that individuals involved in child custody proceedings, particularly those with domestic violence or child abuse allegations, receive appropriate training. Specifically, judges, magistrates, judicial officers, court personnel, and court-referred professionals must undergo a minimum of 20 hours of initial training, followed by at least 15 hours of ongoing training every five years. The training includes a focus on domestic and sexual violence, impacts on children, victim and perpetrator behavior patterns, and relevant scientific research. Conducted by experienced professionals, the training is designed to improve recognition and response to abuse and trauma to make more informed custody decisions. The Administrative Office of the Courts will seek federal grants to support these training initiatives. The act is set to take effect Oct. 1, 2025.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Erin Paré proposed the most bills (40) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Cervania graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a BA.

Cervania, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 41st House district, replacing previous state representative Gale Adcock.