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S 984 104th Congress Senate

Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995

Official title: A bill to protect the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing of a child, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 29, 1995 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Families Child developmentChild healthCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCorporal punishment
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Domestic relationsEducationElementary and secondary educationGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthJudicial reviewLawLegal feesParent and childReligionReligious libertyStandardsState laws
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 17, 1996
Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 5, 1995
Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts. Hearings held.
Jun 29, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 29, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9427-9428)
Jun 29, 1995
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action April 17, 1996

Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995 - Prohibits the Federal Government or any State or local government, or any official of such a government, from interfering with or usurping the right of a parent to govern the upbringing of a child of the parent.

Disallows any exceptions to this Act unless the government or official is able to demonstrate, by appropriate evidence, that such interference or usurpation is valid to accomplish a compelling government interest, in which case only the least amount of interference may be used.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 984: Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-984/
MLA
"S. 984: Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-984/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 984, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-984/.
Markdown link
[S. 984: Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-984/)
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