Parental Rights in Florida

Resolution Supporting the PRA

We did it! Thanks in part to your support, Florida adopted a resolution calling on Congress to pass the Parental Rights Amendment. In 2011, Rep. Coley and Sen. Flores introduced HM 557/SM 954. The memorial passed both houses by an overwhelming majority. (Learn more about state resolutions.)

Florida Parental Rights News

States Take Up Parental Rights Legislation

January 15, 2020

The new legislative year is underway across the country, and in Florida and Colorado we’re championing promising bills to protect parental rights. (For more about the Florida bills and the Florida legislature’s committee challenges, check out this week’s Parental Rights Podcast with special guest, ParentalRights.org State Coordinator Patti Sullivan.) Colorado HB 20-1063 In Colorado, Rep.…

Past News Items:

2011 - We did it! Thanks in part to your support, Florida called on Congress to pass the Parental Rights Amendment. Rep. Coley and Sen. Flores introduced HM 557/SM 954, calling on Congress to pass the Parental Rights Amendment. The memorial passed both houses by an overwhelming majority.

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Volunteer in Florida

To volunteer in Florida, please contact Patti Sullivan.

Florida State Law and Parental Rights

Protected!

We did it! Thanks in part to your supportas of July 1, 2021, parental rights are protected as a fundamental right in the Florida Parents Bill of Rights.  This law provides (in part):

1014.03 Infringement of parental rights.The state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of his or her minor child without demonstrating that such action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that such action is narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.

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Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to keep posted on parental rights in both your state and nationwide. Through our volunteer network, we monitor the law in all the states. We then pass on important updates and action items.

Florida Courts and Parental Rights

"Strict Scrutiny" Applied to Parental Rights

N.B. v. Florida Department of Children and Families (Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal, 2016):

"When a statute impinges on a fundamental liberty interest, such as parenting ones child, we must analyze the constitutionality of the statute under a strict scrutiny standard. Fla. Dep’t of Children & Families v. F.L., , 607 (Fla. 2004) 'To withstand strict scrutiny, a law must be necessary to promote a compelling governmental interest and must be narrowly tailored to advance that interest.' State v. J.P., 907 So. 2d1101, 1109 (Fla. 2004)."

However, this precedent is subject to change.