Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act

Recognizes and protects a fundamental parental right for parents to direct their children’s upbringing, education, and health care, and requires the government to meet the highest legal standard (compelling interest and least restrictive means) before imposing a substantial burden on those rights. The law defines key terms (government, parent, child, and substantial burden), lists specific parental rights (education, moral/religious instruction, access to records and health decisions), creates a narrow safety exception for actions necessary to prevent serious injury or death, and gives parents a private right to sue or defend against government actions that violate the law. It also adjusts federal fee-shifting rules so prevailing parents may recover attorneys’ fees in court and certain administrative adjudications, and declares the protections apply across federal law and agency actions.