HALL MONITOR: “YES” on fundamental parental rights in South Carolina (SB 234 and HB 3197)

Name:  Senate Bill 234 and House Bill 3197, The Parents Bill of Rights

Summary: Parents have fundamental rights regarding the upbringing, education, and care of their children

Status: Senate Bill 234 referred to the Committee on Family and Veterans’ Services in January 2023. House Bill 3197 was referred to the Committee on Judiciary in January 2023.

Bill Sponsors: Senate Bill 234 sponsors can be found here. House Bill 3197 sponsors can be found here.

A sponsor is a legislator who presents a bill to the legislature to be considered for a vote

Bill Breakdown: These companion bills would enshrine parental rights in South Carolina. It affirms that parents have a fundamental right to determine the upbringing, education, and care of their children. The bills would also require that school districts create parental involvement policies, and healthcare providers may not solicit or provide healthcare services to minors without written parental consent.

Why does PDE Action support this bill?

Parents, not the government, have the right to direct the care and upbringing of their children.

Senate Bill 234 and House Bill 3197 would protect parental rights and ensures that no government or state official may interfere with these rights unless it is necessary to protect a child.

Families are the building block of society, and parents have the right to decide their children’s upbringing, care, and education. The government should not make decisions about a child without the parent’s knowledge or consent.

Read our Parental Rights and Education Transparency Palm Card.