A Republican bill with 21 Republican cosponsors · See all 21 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act seeks to establish the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children as a fundamental right. It aims to prevent government agencies from interfering in parental decisions that are based on religious or philosophical premises rather than cases of abuse or neglect. The bill mandates that any government infringement on these rights must meet a strict scrutiny standard, requiring a compelling interest and the least restrictive means. Parents are granted specific protections regarding their child's education, moral or religious upbringing, and medical care. The Act also provides for judicial remedies and the recovery of attorney fees in legal proceedings.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?
The bill protects a parent's right to direct the moral or religious upbringing of their child according to their own beliefs.
- Scored +7
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill provides parents the right to access and review all medical records of their child.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one?
The bill explicitly protects the right of parents to direct the education of their children.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Parental Authority: The bill establishes the direction of a child's upbringing, education, and health care as a fundamental right, which protects parents from government interference (Section 4(a)(1)).
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Control Over Education and Religion: Parents are granted the specific right to direct the education of their child and their moral or religious upbringing (Section 4(a)(2)(A) and (B)).
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Medical Decision-Making: The act protects a parent's right to access and review all medical records of their child and to consent to all physical and mental health care decisions (Section 4(a)(2)(C)).
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Legal Recourse: Parents have the ability to raise a violation of this act as a claim or a defense in Federal or State courts or before administrative tribunals to obtain relief against the government (Section 4(c)).
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Recovery of Legal Costs: The bill amends existing laws to allow for the recovery of attorney fees in judicial and administrative proceedings related to these parental rights (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exceptions for Safety: The protections of this act do not apply to parental actions or decisions that would result in serious physical injury to the child or that would end life (Section 4(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill provides parents the right to access and review all medical records of their child. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill limits federal and state government interference in parental decision-making through a strict scrutiny standard.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion? — The bill protects a parent's right to direct the moral or religious upbringing of their child according to their own beliefs. Does this make child care cost less? — The bill establishes parental authority over child upbringing which can influence family stability.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — The bill explicitly protects the right of parents to direct the education of their children.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill secures a parent's right to consent to all physical and mental health care decisions for their child.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill protects children's family structures by enshrining parental rights, though it excludes decisions involving serious injury.
- 9/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/31/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/23/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Sheri BiggsRepublican · South Carolina
Byron DonaldsRepublican · Florida
Brad FinstadRepublican · Minnesota
Brett GuthrieRepublican · Kentucky
Glenn GrothmanRepublican · Wisconsin
Lance GoodenRepublican · Texas
Clay HigginsRepublican · Louisiana
Mike HaridopolosRepublican · Florida
Pat HarriganRepublican · North Carolina
Mark HarrisRepublican · North Carolina
Barry LoudermilkRepublican · Georgia
Mary MillerRepublican · Illinois
Blake MooreRepublican · Utah
Richard McCormickRepublican · Georgia
Addison McDowellRepublican · North Carolina
Troy NehlsRepublican · Texas
John RoseRepublican · Tennessee
Jefferson ShreveRepublican · Indiana
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas
Roger WilliamsRepublican · Texas