By: Hughes S.J.R. No. 70
(In the Senate - Filed February 28, 2023; March 16, 2023,
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
April 13, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 1; April 13, 2023,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.J.R. No. 70 By: Paxton
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment protecting the right of
parents to raise their children.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article I, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 36 to read as follows:
Sec. 36. (a) A parent has the inherent right to exercise
care, custody, and control of the parent's child and to make
decisions for the upbringing of the parent's child, including but
not limited to decisions regarding the education, moral and
religious training, and health care of the child.
(b) The state or a political subdivision of this state shall
not interfere with the rights of a parent described by Subsection
(a) of this section unless the interference is:
(1) essential to further a compelling governmental
interest; and
(2) narrowly tailored to accomplish that compelling
governmental interest.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment establishing parents
as the primary decision-makers for their children."
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