Bill > SB642

This bill creates the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act, which establishes robust legal protections for parental rights in Arkansas. The legislation defines a parent's fundamental right to care, custody, and control of their child, including decisions about education, healthcare, religious training, and upbringing. The bill mandates that any government action that substantially burdens these parental rights must meet a strict scrutiny standard, meaning the government must prove that its action is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of doing so. The bill provides parents with specific rights, such as accessing their child's medical and educational records, consenting to biometric data collection, choosing educational options, making healthcare decisions, and being notified of potential child safety issues. Parents are also given legal remedies if their rights are violated, including the ability to seek declaratory relief, injunctions, compensatory damages, and attorney's fees. The legislation explicitly does not protect actions that would constitute child abuse or neglect and emphasizes that these protections are in addition to existing constitutional and legal safeguards. The bill applies to all current and future state laws and is designed to broadly protect parental rights to the maximum extent permitted by state and federal constitutions.

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https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb642&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R