By Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden

As a state legislator I have consistently fought to protect families and ensure parents, not bureaucrats, have the final say in raising their children. Last year, the Legislature passed Initiative 2081, the Parents’ Bill of Rights, with near-unanimous support. Now, both chambers in Olympia have voted along party lines to repeal essential aspects of this law. This isn’t just a policy shift. It’s a direct attack on parental rights in Washington.

The passage of the Parents’ Bill of Rights was a historic victory for families. It guaranteed parents the right to be informed about and involved in what happens at their children’s school. The law mandates transparency in school curricula, ensures access to medical records, and reaffirms that parents — not government officials — make critical decisions about their children’s well-being.

Nearly half a million Washingtonians signed the petition to certify I-2081. Its certification gave legislators had three choices: pass it, like any other bill; let voters decide in the general election; or adopt an alternative to accompany I-2081 on the ballot. They chose the former, which appeared to affirm broad bipartisan support for parental rights. However, this decision soon revealed itself to be politically motivated.

Had I-2081 been passed by voters, changing the law this year or next would require approval from two-thirds of the Senate and House – effectively, a bipartisan vote. Because it was passed in Olympia, the I-2081 law may be changed with only a majority vote.

Two weeks into this year’s session, a judge dismissed a constitutional challenge against the law. Since then, the majority has moved similar anti-parent bills out of their respective chambers: Senate Bill 5181 on Feb. 5, and House Bill 1296 on March 24.

If key provisions of the Parents’ Bill of Rights are repealed, schools could withhold vital information from parents regarding their children’s well-being. This includes details about curriculum content, discussions on gender identity, and access to medical services. Parents would lose their ability to challenge inappropriate or politicized curricula, shifting decision-making power back to state officials who have repeatedly dismissed parental concerns.

By approving I-2081, legislators of both parties publicly acknowledged parents are the primary stakeholders in their children’s upbringing. Also, Washington parents have made it clear they do not want school officials hiding lesson plans, making life-altering decisions for minors without parental input, or prioritizing political ideology over academic achievement. I-2081 secured these rights, and now the majority party seeks to take them away.

Across the country, school districts that have cut parents out of critical decisions have faced lawsuits, declining enrollment, academic setbacks, and a loss of trust between families and educators. Washington should lead in protecting parental rights, not follow those who erode them.

Proponents of SB 5181 and HB 1296 claim they are protecting children. In reality, they are protecting bureaucrats and special interests. Parents love and understand their children better than any government agency ever could. When it comes to medical care, education, and personal development, no one is better suited to make decisions for a child than their parents. By pushing to repeal much of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, majority lawmakers send a clear message: they don’t trust parents to act in their children’s best interests.

Senate Republicans stand with parents and the half-million Washingtonians who fought to enshrine these rights into law. We will oppose SB 5181 and HB 1296 at every turn because government exists to serve families, not control them.

I urge every Washingtonian — parent, grandparent, teacher, and concerned citizen — to speak out against these bills. Call your legislators, attend hearings, and demand respect for the will of the people. Washington parents fought too hard for these rights to have them stripped away by lawmakers who think they know better. The attack on parental rights must be stopped.

In the News

The attack on parental rights must be stopped | Whitman Co. Gazette | April 3, 2025