Minors’ rights curbed, parents’ rights expanded, under Florida House bill

By: Christine Sexton

Outlets: Florida Phoenix

Published: January 27, 2026

Words: 1,061

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 6 days ago

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Florida physicians can treat minors for sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, and mental health problems without first obtaining parental consent.

Those rights, scattered throughout Florida statues, would be eliminated, and the Parents’ Bill of Rights expanded, under HB 173, which cleared the House Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday on a partisan 19-7 vote, with a bloc of Democrats opposing the bill.

HB 173 would strike from the …

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