House Democrats reject House Republicans’ motion to ensure two initiatives receive prompt public hearings
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House Democrats reject House Republicans’ motion to ensure two initiatives receive prompt public hearings
During House floor action today, Democrats voted to reject a Republican motion to instruct the House Education Committee to promptly schedule public hearings on Initiative IL 26-638 (K-12 athletics participation) and Initiative IL 26-001 (parental rights/schools).
House floor remarks from House Republican Assistant Floor Leader Travis Couture can be viewed in this YouTube video. The House floor session can be viewed on TVW (20:27 to 36:15) here.
Rep. Travis Couture also released this statement following the motion being voted down by the ruling party:
“More than 400,000 Washingtonians signed these initiatives and asked to be heard. Today, the majority Democrats said no — not to me, but to the people they represent. Refusing to even hold hearings sends a clear message: when citizens speak up, the majority would rather shut the door than listen. That’s not how representative government is supposed to work.”
Learn more:
- Initiative IL 26-638 would protect the integrity of girls’ sports in Washington state and ensure female athletes are not forced into competition with biological males. The measure has been referred to the House Education Committee and Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, respectively.
- Initiative IL 26-001 would restore the Parents’ Bill of Rights and guarantee parents the right to review their children’s instructional materials, access school records, be notified when medical services are provided, and opt out of certain classes. The measure has been referred to the same House and Senate committees as Initiative IL 26-638.
- Constitution of the State of Washington | Article II, Section 1(a) (Legislative Department)
- Such initiative measures, whether certified or provisionally certified, shall take precedence over all other measures in the legislature except appropriation bills and shall be either enacted or rejected without change or amendment by the legislature before the end of such regular session.
- House Education Committee
- Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education
