Committee hears hours of testimony on parental‑rights bill; A1 amendment adopted and House File 22 referred to Education Policy

The House Committee on Children and Families on Feb. 11 took testimony on House File 22, a measure that would codify broad parental rights over the education, upbringing, religious instruction, health and privacy of minor children, adopted an author’s A1 amendment, and voted to re‑refer the bill to the Education Policy Committee.

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill clarifies and protects parental authority; opponents and some committee members said the measure, particularly as amended, raises conflicts with child‑protection law, school practice and health‑care delivery and could make it harder for schools and courts to act in a child’s best interests.

Representative Dawn Gilman, the bill’s author, opened the hearing and described the bill’s intent: "House Bill 22 establishes a broad parental rights to direct the education, upbringing, religious instruction, health and privacy of a child without government interference." Gilman said the bill "does not create new rights, but rather recognizes the rights parents already have." The committee adopted Gilman’s A1 amendment, which adds language requiring government actions that…