Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act

This proposal, called the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, says parents have a fundamental right to direct their child’s upbringing, education, and health care. Government can’t interfere unless it has a very strong, specific reason and uses the least restrictive way to address it. It lists rights like choosing how a child is educated, guiding moral or religious teaching, and seeing and making medical and mental health decisions for the child. Parents can take a case to court or an agency if they believe the government violated these rights. This law must be read broadly to protect families and adds to, not replaces, other protections. It does not protect actions that would seriously hurt a child or end a child’s life .

If parents win their case, they can recover attorney’s fees in court and certain agency proceedings. The act applies to all federal laws, old and new, unless a future law clearly says it does not apply. It defines “parent” to include biological or adoptive parents, and certain guardians under state law, and “child” as under 18. “Government” includes federal agencies and officials, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories .

Key points

• Who is affected: Parents and children under 18; federal agencies and officials; D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.
• What changes: Parental rights are treated as fundamental; government limits must meet a very high standard; parents can sue or defend their actions; winning parents can get attorney’s fees; courts must read the law in favor of broad protection for families .
• Limits: No protection for parental actions that would cause serious physical harm or end a child’s life.
• When: Applies to existing and future federal laws, unless a later law clearly opts out.