Committee re-refers parental-rights bill after lengthy testimony; amendment adopted

Representative Dawn Gilman, the bill author, presented House File 22 to the Committee on Children's and Families and said the measure "establishes a broad parental rights to direct the education, upbringing, religious instruction, health and privacy of a child without government interference." The committee adopted an A1 author's amendment that requires any government action alleged to violate parental rights to meet a stringent standard of judicial review — generally described in the hearing as the "compelling state interest" strict‑scrutiny test — and then re‑referred the bill to the Education Policy Committee by voice vote.

Why it matters: House File 22 would enshrine a parental-rights standard covering education, upbringing, religious instruction and certain health and privacy decisions. Supporters said the bill provides clarity for parents and professionals; opponents warned it could interfere with child-protection proceedings and routine school health services.

Gilman told the committee the…