AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT (Provides for a parents' bill of rights related to the health, education and welfare of their minor children.)

S2485

2026 -- S 2485
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LC003318
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT

Introduced By:
Senators E Morgan, Rogers, and de la Cruz

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 106
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PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
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23-106-1. Short title.
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Parents' Bill of Rights Act".
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23-106-2. Legislative findings.
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The general assembly finds that it is a fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing,
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education, and care of their minor children. The general assembly further finds that important
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information relating to a minor child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposefully,
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from their parents, including information relating to the minor child's health, well-being, and
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education, while the minor child is in the custody of the school district. The general assembly
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further finds it is necessary to establish a consistent mechanism for parents to be notified of
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information relating to the health and well-being of their minor children.
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23-106-3. Infringement of parental rights.
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(a) The state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other
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institution may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing,
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education, health care, and mental health of their minor child, without demonstrating that such
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action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that such action is

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narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.
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(b) For purposes of this chapter, the term "parent" means a person who has legal custody
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of a minor child as a natural or adoptive parent or a legal guardian.
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23-106-4. Parental rights.
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(a) All parental rights are reserved to the parent of a minor child in this state without
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obstruction or interference from the state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental
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entity, or any other institution, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
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(1) The right to direct the education and care of their minor child.
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(2) The right to direct the upbringing and the moral and religious training of their minor
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child.
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(3) The right to apply to enroll their minor child in a public school or, as an alternative to
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public education, a private school, including a religious school, a home education program, or other
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available options, as authorized by law.
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(4) The right to access and review all school records relating to their minor child.
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(5) The right to make health care decisions for their minor child, unless otherwise provided
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by law.
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(6) The right to access and review all medical records of their minor child unless prohibited
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by law, or if the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor
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child, the records may be withheld, if a law enforcement agency or official upon application to a
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court of competent jurisdiction obtains an order that the information is not to be released.
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(7) The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of their minor child is made,
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shared, or stored.
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(8) The right to consent in writing before any record of their minor child's blood or
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deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by law or authorized
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pursuant to a court order.
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(9) The right to consent in writing before the state or any of its political subdivisions makes
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a video or voice recording of their minor child unless such recording is made during or as part of a
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court proceeding or is made as part of a forensic interview in a criminal or department of children,
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youth and families investigation or is to be used solely for the following:
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(i) A safety demonstration, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the
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common areas of a school or on student transportation vehicles;
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(ii) A purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity;
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(iii) A purpose related to regular classroom instructions;
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(iv) Security or surveillance of buildings or grounds; or

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(v) A photo identification card.
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(10) The right to be notified promptly if an employee of the state, any of its political
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subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution suspects that a criminal offense
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has been committed against their minor child, unless the incident has first been reported to law
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enforcement or the department of children, youth and families and notifying the parents would
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impede the investigation.
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(b) This section does not:
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(1) Authorize a parent of a minor child in this state to engage in conduct that is unlawful
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or to abuse or neglect their minor child in violation of law;
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(2) Condone, authorize, approve, or apply to a parental action or decision that would end
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life;
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(3) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction, law enforcement officer, or employees of a
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government agency that is responsible for child welfare from acting in their official capacity within
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the reasonable and prudent scope of their authority; or
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(4) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction from issuing an order that is otherwise
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permitted by law.
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(c) An employee of the state, any of its political subdivisions, or any other governmental
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entity who encourages or coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce, a minor child to withhold
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information from their parent may be subject to disciplinary action.
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(d) A parent of a minor child in this state has inalienable rights that are more comprehensive
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than those listed in this section, unless such rights have been legally waived or terminated. This
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chapter does not prescribe all rights to a parent of a minor child in this state. Unless required by
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law, the rights of a parent of a minor child in this state may not be limited or denied. This chapter
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may not be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.
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23-106-5. Parental consent for healthcare services.
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a healthcare provider or professional, as defined
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in § 27-19-1, or an individual employed by such healthcare practitioner may not provide or solicit
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or arrange to provide healthcare services or prescribe medicinal drugs to a minor child without first
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obtaining written parental consent.
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by law or a court order, a healthcare provider may not
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allow a medical procedure to be performed on a minor child in its facility without first obtaining
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written parental consent.
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(c) This section does not apply to an abortion, which is governed by chapter 4.13 of title
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23.

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(d) This section does not apply to services provided by a clinical laboratory, unless the
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services are delivered through a direct encounter with the minor at the clinical laboratory facility.
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For purposes of this subsection, the term "clinical laboratory" has the same meaning as provided in
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§ 23-16.2-2.
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23-106-6. Penalties.
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Any healthcare provider, professional or other person who violates this section is subject
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to disciplinary action pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5, as applicable, and commits a misdemeanor
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punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or by a fine of not more than one
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thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or an administrative fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each
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violation, as applicable.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 16-71 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Educational
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Records Bill of Rights" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-71-7. School district notifications on parental rights.
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(a) Each district school board shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, and
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administrators, develop and adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school
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system. Such policy shall include:
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(1) A plan for parental participation in schools to improve parent and teacher cooperation
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in such areas as homework, school attendance, and discipline.
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(2) A procedure for parents to learn about their minor child's course of study, including the
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source of any supplemental education materials.
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(3) Procedures for parents to object to curriculum materials to be considered for use
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pursuant to the provisions of chapter 22 of title 16, and other materials used in the classroom. Such
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objections may be based on beliefs regarding morality, sex, and religion or the belief that such
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materials are harmful. For purposes of this chapter, curriculum may include other materials used in
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the classroom, including workbooks and worksheets, handouts, software, applications, and any
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digital media made available to students.
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(4) Procedures, pursuant to § 16-22-18, for a parent to withdraw their minor child from any
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portion of the school district's comprehensive health education required that relates to sex education
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or instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding
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sexuality if the parent provides a written objection to their minor child's participation. Such
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procedures shall provide for a parent to be notified in advance of such course content in order that
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they may withdraw their minor child from those portions of the course.
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(5) Procedures for a parent to learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and activities
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offered at their minor child's school, including those clubs and activities that are extracurricular or

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part of the school curriculum.
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(6) Procedures for parents to learn about parental rights and responsibilities under the law,
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including all of the following:
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(i) Pursuant to § 16-22-18, the right to opt their minor child out of any portion of the school
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district's comprehensive health education that relates to sex education instruction in acquired
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immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding sexuality.
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(ii) A plan to disseminate information, about school choice options, including open
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enrollment.
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(iii) In accordance with § 16-38-2, the right of a parent to exempt their minor child from
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immunizations.
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(iv) The right of a parent to review statewide, standardized assessment results.
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(v) The right of a parent to enroll their minor child in gifted or special education programs.
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(vi) The right of a parent to inspect school district instructional materials.
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(vii) The right of a parent to access information relating to the school district's policies for
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promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements.
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(viii) The right of a parent to receive a school report card and be informed of their minor
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child's attendance requirements.
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(ix) The right of a parent to access information relating to the state public education system,
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state standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and instructional materials
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requirements.
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(x) The right of a parent to participate in parent-teacher associations and organizations that
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are sanctioned by a district school board or the department of education.
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(xi) The right of a parent to opt out of any district-level data collection relating to their
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minor child not required by law.
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(b) A district school board may provide the information required in this section
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electronically or post such information on its website.
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(c) A parent may request, in writing, from the district school superintendent the information
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set forth in and required under this section. Within ten (10) days, the district school superintendent
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shall provide the information to the parent. If the district school superintendent denies a parent's
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request for information or does not respond to the parent's request within ten (10) days, the parent
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may appeal the denial to the district school board. If possible, the district school board shall place
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a parent's appeal on the agenda for its next public meeting. If it is too late for a parent's appeal to
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appear on the next agenda, the appeal shall be included on the agenda for the subsequent meeting.
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(d) The governing body of a school who violates or allows the violation of this section shall

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be liable for a civil penalty, not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) per instance. This penalty
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shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general in any court of
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competent jurisdiction. Any penalty assessed and recovered in an action brought pursuant to this
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subsection shall be paid to the general treasurer and added to the general fund.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
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This act would provide for a parents' bill of rights preventing the state or any governmental
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entity from infringing on the fundamental rights of parents in the upbringing of their children. The
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act would spell out the rights of parents with respect to the health, education and welfare of their
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minor children. Violations of the act would result in civil, criminal and/or administrative penalties.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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