Legislative Update

A lot has been happening in state legislatures around the country regarding parental rights, including some big news out of Indiana. But before I get to that, check out what’s going on in these states:

In Florida, the Reasonable Childhood Independence bill is nearing the finish line. Introduced concurrently by Sen. Erin Grall in the Senate as SB 1286 and by Rep. Monique Miller in the House as HB 1191, the bill would clarify that allowing children a certain degree of freedom—things like riding their bikes or walking to a nearby park, or spending time at home alone—does not constitute “neglect” or warrant interference by law enforcement or child protective services.

SB 1286 already passed all three of its committees and the full Senate, which voted unanimously on April 9. HB 1191 passed its third and final hearing on Tuesday, April 15, and is now being scheduled for a vote on the House floor. If it passes, the bills will be combined and sent to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Meanwhile, a bill to restore parents’ rightful authority over their children’s medical care and records needs your help (if you live in Florida). HB 1505 was introduced by the Judiciary Committee and has passed two of the three committees to which it was assigned. It is now in the Education and Employment Committee. Its companion bill, SB 1288, was introduced by Senator Grall and has also passed two of three committees, waiting now in the Senate Rules Committee.

Unfortunately, due to the legislature’s schedule, there is only one remaining chance for each of these bills to get on its respective committee calendar. So, if you live in Florida, please take a moment today to take the following actions:

• Contact Sen. Kathleen Passidomo [(850) 487-5028, Kathleen@flsenate.gov] and urge her to add SB 1288 to the Senate Rules Committee agenda.
• Contact Sen. Ben Albritton, Senate President [(850) 487-5229, ben.web@flsenate.gov] and urge him to please stand with Florida parents by supporting and passing SB 1288.
• Contact Rep. Jennifer Canady [(850) 717-5050, Canady@flhouse.gov] and urge her to add HB 1505 to the Education & Employment Committee’s April 22 agenda.

You can find out more about these bills and get late-breaking updates from State Coordinator Patti Sullivan by following the Parental Rights Florida page on Facebook.

In Illinois, HB 2827, a bill to place homeschooling and private schools under the authority of the state’s public education administrators has stalled due to strong opposition from parents who choose these forms of education for their children. But the bill is not dead yet. If you live in Illinois, be sure your state lawmaker knows you oppose this bill, and be prepared to submit more witness slips if the need arises. Parents, not the State, have the primary responsibility for the education of their own children. And, frankly, parents are doing a better job!

In Colorado, HCR25-1003 would add to the state constitution the inalienable right “of directing the upbringing, education, and care of their children.” It was only recently introduced and has a long way to go, but if you live in Colorado, you should reach out to your state lawmakers and let them know you support this measure. The Colorado legislature has not been friendly lately to parents’ rights to direct their child’s upbringing and care (see HB1312), so we expect this to be an uphill battle. But we are grateful to Rep. Ken DeGraaf for leading the charge.

In West Virginia, Governor Morrisey signed into law on April 14 the Parents’ Bill of Rights, HB 2129. This law, sponsored by Del. Jim Butler (R-Mason), is based on our model language and includes fundamental parental rights and strict scrutiny protection. It was championed by our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom and other

organizations in West Virginia.

And, finally, we come to Indiana, where SB 143 to codify fundamental parental rights and strict judicial scrutiny protection for these rights has passed both houses and awaits the governor’s signature. Introduced by Senator Liz Brown (R-Dist. 15), the bill passed the Senate (44-5) on January 27 and passed the House with amendments (69-24) on April 1. The Senate concurred in the House amendments (43-4) on April 8, sending the bill on for signatures.

We are extremely grateful for our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom and the Indiana Family Institute, as well as other state-based organizations, for their support on this measure. And I am deeply grateful for one state volunteer (who prefers not to be named), who has been instrumental over a period of years in bringing parental rights to the very brink of Indiana law.

Now, we wait hopefully for the signature of Governor Mike Braun.

These are only the highlights of parental rights legislation around the country. In Alabama, you’ll want to keep an eye on HB 340 to inform parents of their existing constitutional rights in child welfare investigations. In Pennsylvania, you’ll want to watch out for parental rights legislation to be introduced later in the year (per the rumblings I’m hearing from your state, subject to change). And there are so many more.

Thank you, wherever you live, for championing parental rights with your lawmakers. Making our voices heard together, we can truly protect children by empowering parents through good state legislation.