What Is HB 148?
HB 148 is a constitutional amendment that would permanently enshrine in the Alabama Constitution the fundamental right of parents to direct the education, upbringing, care, and control of their children. Sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Paschal (HD-73), the amendment recognizes parents — not government bureaucrats — as the primary decision-makers in their children's lives.
This is not a new idea. It is a foundational Biblical and American principle: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6). HB 148 gives that principle the force of constitutional law.
Parental rights have been recognized in American law for over a century, including in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Pierce v. Society of Sisters. HB 148 locks those protections into the Alabama Constitution so they cannot be weakened by future legislation.
What HB 148 Does — and Does Not Do
- Protects parental authority over children's education, upbringing, care, and control as a fundamental constitutional right.
- Recognizes parents as primary — the government must demonstrate a compelling interest before overriding parental decisions.
- Does NOT change existing child-protection laws. Abuse, neglect, and criminal statutes remain fully intact.
- Does NOT affect custody arrangements or family court proceedings.
- Does NOT create new rights against private parties — it limits government overreach, not private relationships.
- Gives Alabama families a permanent constitutional shield against government intrusion into family life.
Sample Message to Committee Members
Call the switchboard at (334) 242-7100 or email directly using the contacts below. Feel free to personalize this message:
Act Now — Before Tuesday!
The committee hears HB 148 on Wednesday, March 18 at 1:30 PM. Reach members before Tuesday afternoon.
(334) 242-7100★ Built on Prior Support
HB 148 builds directly on HB6 (2023 / Act 2023-555), which received strong support from members of this very committee. This amendment takes those same protections and places them permanently in the Alabama Constitution.
Committee members who supported HB6 in 2023:
Hill • Wadsworth • Bedsole • Chestnut • Faulkner • McClammy • Pettus • Robbins • Robertson • Simpson • Starnes • Stringer • Tillman
Why CCA Supports HB 148
The Christian Coalition of Alabama has long stood for the Biblical principle that parents bear the God-given responsibility — and authority — to raise their children. That authority should not depend on the goodwill of a government agency or the whim of a bureaucrat.
HB 148 does not give parents new power over others. It protects their existing God-given authority from government overreach. We urge every Alabama family to contact their representatives and demand a YES vote.
— Dr. Randy Brinson, President, Christian Coalition of Alabama
House Judiciary Committee — Contact Every Member
Contact each member before Tuesday afternoon and urge them to vote YES on HB 148.
✓ Supported HB6 (2023) — these members already voted for parental rights protections. Remind them this is the next step.