Texas Adopts State Parental Rights Amendment

On Tuesday, Texas voters chose overwhelmingly to add parental rights to their state’s constitution.

Supported by Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Family Freedom Project, the ballot proposition will add to the Texas Constitution the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children.

Your Parental Rights Foundation also supported the proposition as good for families.

THSC Director of Public Policy Jeremy Newman is quoted on Ballotpedia thus: “This is a priority because, currently, the constitutional rights of parents are found only in case law, which is controlled by judges. Those rights could disappear if we have bad judges who make it into office… Adding parental rights to the Texas Constitution is a critical protection for these most foundational rights that families have, which are essential to the functioning of our society.”

Proposed by state Senator Bryan Hughes and passed by a two-thirds vote of the legislature, the measure needed a simple majority in the election to be adopted. One hundred percent of Republicans and 66% of Democrats in the legislature approved the proposition.

As of this morning, with 93% of precincts reporting, voter support is running 70% to 30%. While the result has not yet been certified, the outcome at this point is clear.

Texas becomes the first state in the nation to recognize parental rights in its constitution. A 1996 effort in Colorado came up short when a late misinformation campaign convinced voters that a PRA would protect child abusers.

Families in the Lone Star State can breathe a little easier knowing their parental rights will soon be preserved in the state’s constitution. Still, there is a lot of work ahead as those rights continue to be ironed out in the day-to-day of Texas life.

Thank you for standing with us to protect children by empowering parents in Texas and across the nation.