Colorado Democrats just voted down a resolution meant to protect parental rights, with one lawmaker arguing that the idea of parents always being supreme isn’t even part of the state’s history.
Colorado House Democrats shot down a resolution which would protect parental rights.
State Rep Cecelia Espenoza claimed kids belong to the “king” and the State.
“The notion that parents’ rights always reigned supreme is not in our.. history”
Unreal pic.twitter.com/ATofprqGCZ
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 23, 2025
State Representative Cecelia Espenoza, a Democrat, dropped the bombshell during a debate on Tuesday over the measure, which aimed to shield parents’ rights in making decisions about their children’s upbringing, education, and welfare. “The notion that parents’ rights always reigned supreme is not in our history,” Espenoza declared, pushing back against the resolution.
She argued that the state sometimes needs to prioritize the “collective good” over what individual parents might want. Naturally, this set off fireworks in the chamber.
Supporters of the resolution fired back, insisting that parental rights are fundamental and parents know best how to raise their kids. They argued the state shouldn’t stick its nose in unless there’s a really good reason, like abuse or neglect.
But Espenoza and her allies weren’t having it. They claimed parental rights aren’t absolute and the state has a duty to step in when it thinks a child’s welfare might be at risk. The state, they believe, needs to balance individual rights against the community’s well-being.
In the end, the resolution went down in flames, with most Democrats voting against protecting parental rights. The message seems clear: Colorado lawmakers think the state should have the power to meddle in family decisions if they feel it’s necessary.
After the vote, Espenoza doubled down, saying that while she respects parents, the state’s job is to protect kids, suggesting that sometimes means overruling moms and dads. This fight over who really gets to raise the kids – parents or the government – is far from over in Colorado.
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