Group sues to overturn rewrite of WA parental rights law

Parents and school board directors filed a lawsuit against Washington state on Thursday to block House Bill 1296, claiming it infringes upon constitutional rights regarding parental control and religious freedoms. The lawsuit, lodged in Thurston County Superior Court, contends that the law undermines Initiative 2081, which provided specific rights to parents regarding their children's education and medical information. Notable changes under the new law include the elimination of parental access to school-based medical records and an extension of the timeline for obtaining school records from 10 days to 45 days. The plaintiffs, including Kennewick School Board member Gabriel Galbraith, argue that the law represents state interference in family matters. Represented by the Citizen Action Defense Fund, the group includes school board members from multiple districts.

A political organization is also pushing to repeal the law through legislative means or a potential ballot initiative in 2026. The state Attorney General's office has yet to review the complaint, while a spokesperson for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction affirmed their commitment to enforcing the law. The lawsuit raises significant questions about parental rights in education amid ongoing national debates on gender inclusivity and diversity in schools.