Bill > SB2870

This bill, known as the Mississippi Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act, establishes comprehensive protections for parental rights across several key areas. The legislation creates broad parental authority in directing a child's upbringing, education, healthcare, and mental health, requiring any governmental interference to meet an extremely high legal standard of a "compelling governmental interest of the highest order." Parents are granted extensive rights, including accessing educational and medical records, consenting to medical procedures and medications, choosing educational environments, reviewing curriculum, and being informed about their child's activities. The bill mandates that schools develop policies promoting parental involvement, requiring transparency about curriculum, clubs, and instruction, and allowing parents to withdraw children from specific presentations or activities. Schools and state employees are prohibited from withholding information about a child from their parents and are restricted from encouraging children to conceal information. The act also protects teachers' rights to express religious beliefs and provides mechanisms for parents to file complaints or lawsuits if they believe their rights have been violated, with potential remedies including monetary damages, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees. Importantly, the bill explicitly does not authorize child abuse and includes provisions preventing parents from making life-ending decisions for their children. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is designed to be broadly interpreted in favor of parental rights.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2870.xml