Initiative IL26-001

Restoring Parents’ Rights

Initiative Measure No. IL26-001 concerns parental rights relating to their children in public school.

This measure would repeal amendments to a statute listing certain rights of parents and guardians of public-school children and re-enact the law as it was originally enacted by Initiative to the Legislature 2081.

Note: The ballot title, which appears in the dark gray box, is supplied by the Office of the Attorney General as part of the official language of this initiative to the Legislature. Signatures submitted source: Secretary of State

IL26-001 AT A GLANCE

INITIATIVE FILED: May 22, 2025
SIGNATURES SUBMITTED: 418,666
SIGNATURES REQUIRED: 308,911
DATE CERTIFIED: Jan. 26, 2026
HOUSE COMMITTEE: Education
SENATE COMMITTEE: Early Learning & K-12 Education
ACTION TAKEN: None

WHAT THE INITIATIVE DOES

Restores the bipartisan, voter-supported Parents’ Bill of Rights as passed by the Legislature in 2024.

THE PROPOSED LAW

Giving parents access: The state does not own our kids

This initiative would reestablish parents’ right to be notified before their child receives medical or mental health services, restore faster access to textbooks, classroom materials, and school records, and reinforce parents’ ability to stay informed about their child’s education and well-being.

The measure also emphasizes timely communication from schools, including notice of academic performance, school policies, disciplinary issues, and safety concerns. It seeks to ensure parents are promptly informed about serious incidents involving their child, given advance notice and opt-out options for sensitive classroom topics, and assured that students will not face discrimination based on their family’s religious beliefs.

HOW DID WE GET HERE

In 2024, Initiative 2081 passed the Legislature with strong bipartisan support and was intended to clarify parents’ rights regarding their children’s experiences in school and certain health care settings. Supporters argue the law was never fully implemented and was later significantly altered by Democrats in the Legislature.

After a legal challenge failed to derail I-2081, majority Democrats passed House Bill 1296 in 2025, which dramatically altered the law, dismantling the protections established under I-2081 and further dividing parents and schools.

On January 26, 2026, Initiative IL26-001 was certified by the Secretary of State after more than 400,000 signatures were submitted and was sent to the Washington Legislature for consideration. Under the state’s initiative process, lawmakers may adopt the measure, refer it to voters, or advance an alternative. Democratic legislative leadership has stated it will not hold hearings on or advance the initiative.

I-2081 passed the House 82-15 and passed the Senate unanimously, 49-0. It received bipartisan support in both chambers.

HB 1296 passed the House 56-37 (with five representatives excused). It passed the Senate 30-19. It did not receive bipartisan support in either chamber.

House Bill 1296 changed Washington law by reducing parents’ access to information about their children’s school-based medical and mental health care. Under the bill, students age 13 and older can consent to certain treatments without parental permission, and parents are not required to be notified. In some cases, students may even leave campus to receive care without their parents being told.

The bill also made it harder and slower for parents to get information from schools. While the original Parents’ Bill of Rights required schools to respond to records requests within 10 days, HB 1296 extended that deadline to 45 days. This means parents may not receive lesson materials or other information until weeks later—potentially after the class or lesson has already ended.

After the original Parents’ Bill of Rights (Initiative 2081) passed, it was challenged in court. In January 2025, a King County judge dismissed that lawsuit, marking a major legal win for supporters of the law. However, just weeks later, the Legislature passed House Bill 1296, which rolled back most of the protections created by I-2081, effectively canceling out that court victory.

Supporters of the Parents’ Bill of Rights later sued to block HB 1296 in November 2025, but the case is still ongoing and may not be resolved before the end of the 2026 legislative session—or even before the November election. In addition, opponents of HB 1296 have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education, arguing that the law violates federal student and parent privacy protections under federal education laws.

Under the Washington Constitution, laws passed through the initiative process are protected from being changed by the Legislature for two years unless two-thirds of lawmakers in both chambers agree. This rule is meant to give new laws time to be put into effect before they are altered. IL26-001 highlights this protection so voters understand that the initiative would not be easily changed right after it becomes law.

DEMOCRATS’ UNPOPULAR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM AND PAYROLL TAX

Starting July 1, 2023, most workers in Washington, including part-time and temporary workers, began paying up to $0.58 per $100 of their earnings for the WA Cares Fund — a new state-run, long-term care insurance program. Estimate your costs here.

DEMOCRATS’ UNPOPULAR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM AND PAYROLL TAX

Starting July 1, 2023, most workers in Washington, including part-time and temporary workers, began paying up to $0.58 per $100 of their earnings for the WA Cares Fund — a new state-run, long-term care insurance program. Estimate your costs here.