2025 Texas Proposition 15
November 4, 2025
| ||||||||||
"The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children." | ||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||
| Yes >90%
80–90%
70–80%
60–70%
50–60%
No 50–60% | ||||||||||
| Source: Associated Press [1] | ||||||||||
2025 Texas Proposition 15 was a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Texas to declare that parents have the responsibility to nurture and protect their children, and that they have a fundamental right to "exercise care, custody, and control" of their children, including decisions relating to the child's upbringing. Placed on the ballot by Senate Joint Resolution 34, the measure passed, receiving just under 70% of the vote, and the backing of all but one of Texas's 254 counties.
Background
[edit ]In November 2025, 26 U.S. states had adopted statewide policies enacting a Parents' Bill of Rights.[2]
Legislation for Proposition 15
[edit ]Senate Joint Resolution 34 (S.J.R. 34) placed the amendment on the ballot.[3] The resolution was introduced on February 7, 2025, by State Sen. Bryan Hughes. On March 11, 2025, the State Senate unanimously passed the measure 31–0, and on May 14, 2025, the State House passed an amended version in a 112–22 vote, with 16 legislators either absent or not voting.[2] The State Senate concurred with the amended version unanimously on May 20, 2025.[2]
The amended version removed a provision that would have restricted the state or a political subdivision from interfering with parental rights unless the interference was necessary to implement a compelling governmental interest and was narrowly tailored in order to reach that goal.[4]
Endorsements
[edit ]- State legislators
- Cesar Blanco, state senator from the 29th district (2021–present) (Democratic)[5]
- James Frank, state representative from the 69th district (2013–present) (Republican)[4]
- Brian Hughes, state senator from the 1st district (2017–present) (Republican)[6]
- Political parties
- Organizations
- Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission[8]
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility [9]
- Texans for Vaccine Choice [8]
- Texas Eagle Forum [8]
- Texas Public Policy Foundation [8]
- Newspapers
- State legislators
- Ana-Maria Ramos, state representative from the 102nd district (2019–present) (Democratic)[12]
- Molly Cook, state senator from the 15th district (2024–present) (Democratic)[13]
- Political parties
- Newspapers
- Labor unions
Contents and amendment
[edit ]Ballot wording
[edit ]The amendment, which was decided by voters alongside the 2025 Texas constitutional amendment election on November 4, 2025,[21] had the following information shown to voters for it:[21]
STATE OF TEXAS PROPOSITION 15
"The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children."
(PROPUESTA NÚMERO 15 DEL ESTADO DE TEXAS)
("La enmienda constitucional que afirma que los padres son los principales responsables de la toma de decisiones para sus hijos.")
() For (A Favor)
() Against (En Contra)
Constitutional changes
[edit ]The amendment added Section 37 and the following language to Article 1 of the Constitution of Texas:[22]
Sec. 37. To enshrine truths that are deeply rooted in this nation's history and traditions, the people of Texas hereby affirm that a parent has the responsibility to nurture and protect the parent's child and the corresponding fundamental right to exercise care, custody, and control of the parent's child, including the right to make decisions concerning the child's upbringing.
Results
[edit ]| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 2,072,942 | 69.90 | |
| Against | 892,457 | 30.10 | |
| Total | 2,965,399 | 100.00 | |
| Source: Associated Press[23] | |||
Travis County, which contains Austin, the capital city of Texas,[24] was the only county of the state to oppose the measure, with 58.4% voting against.[25]
References
[edit ]- ↑ "Texas Proposition 15". Associated Press . Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Texas Proposition 15, Parental Rights Amendment (2025)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments" (PDF). Texas Legislative Council. August 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- 1 2 Cacciatore, Luca (14 May 2025). "Texas Lawmakers Pass Constitutional Amendment Enshrining Parental Rights". Texas Scorecard. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ Powell, Adam (November 2, 2025). "Where do El Paso, Texas Democrats, Republicans stand on 17 constitutional amendments: List". El Paso Times . Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Advocacy groups at odds over parental rights constitutional amendment". Black Chronicle . October 15, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ "LPTexas Voter Guide 2025 Constitutional Amendments" (PDF). Libertarian Party of Texas . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "Witness List SJR 34" (PDF). Texas Legislature Online. February 24, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ "The 2025 Proposed Amendments to the Texas Constitution". Texans for Fiscal Responsibility . 25 September 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ "We recommend: Prop 15 would underscore parental rights". The Dallas Morning News . October 20, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Star-Telegram endorsements: Texas constitutional amendment election | Opinion". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ Harper, Karen Brooks (13 October 2025). "Amendment would enshrine parental rights in Texas constitution. But what does that mean?". The Dallas Morning News . Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ Cook, Molly (October 16, 2025). "Senator Molly Cook Voter Guide". Instagram . Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ Bauman, Matthew. "Voting guide: 2025 State Constitutional Amendments". Green Party of Texas. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ "Texas has 17 constitutional amendments on the 2025 ballot. Here's where we stand on each". Austin American-Statesman . October 16, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Chronicle Endorsements for the November 2025 Election". The Austin Chronicle . October 16, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board 2025 election recommendations". San Antonio Express-News . Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Texas Election Endorsements". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Texas REALTORS® Positions on Nov. 4, 2025 Propositions". Texas Realtors Support. Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- ↑ "November ballot to include 17 state constitutional amendments". Texas Farm Bureau. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- 1 2 "Constitutional Amendment Election" (PDF). Frio County, TX. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ "S.J.R. No. 34" (PDF). Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Texas Proposition 15". Associated Press . Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ "About the City of Austin". AustinTexas. Archived from the original on 1 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ↑ "Texas Proposition 15". AP News . Retrieved 8 January 2026.