WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESHB 1296

HB 1296: Public education system

Promoting a safe and supportive public education system.

Summary

  • Requires school district, charter school, and state-tribal education compact school (STEC) policies and procedures to prioritize the protection of students' safety, access to a discrimination-free academic environment, access to the program of basic education, and privacy.
  • Makes changes to delineated rights of parents and legal guardians of public school children.
  • Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to establish a process for receiving and investigating complaints alleging willful noncompliance with certain state laws and permits the OSPI to impose resulting penalties.
  • Modifies the list of protected classes in nondiscrimination provisions that apply to public schools.
  • Establishes a statement of student rights and associated duties for school districts, charter schools, and STECs.
  • Establishes retaliation protections for public school employees supporting students in the exercise of their legal rights and performing work in accordance with certain requirements.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESHB 1296), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 369, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 14, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 3, 2025
  3. Passed HouseMar 12, 2025
  4. Passed SenateApr 11, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 20, 2025
  6. LawMay 20, 2025
Prime sponsor
Monica Jurado Stonier (D-49)
Introduced
January 14, 2025 in the House
Last action
May 20, 2025
Session law
Chapter 369, Laws of 2025
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1296, SHB 1296, ESHB 1296

AN ACT Relating to promoting a safe and supportive public education system through student rights, parental and guardian rights, employee protections, and requirements for state and local education entities;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Monica Jurado Stonier (D-49)

23 co-sponsors (23 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Nicole Macri D-43Debra Lekanoff D-40Beth Doglio D-22Liz Berry D-36Osman Salahuddin D-48Lauren Davis D-32Alex Ramel D-40Edwin Obras D-33Julia Reed D-36Timm Ormsby D-3Shaun Scott D-43Greg Nance D-23Steve Bergquist D-11Joe Fitzgibbon D-34Lisa Parshley D-22Emily Alvarado D-34Shelley Kloba D-1Gerry Pollet D-46Strom Peterson D-21Jake Fey D-27Tarra Simmons D-23Natasha Hill D-3Mary Fosse D-38

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
56 Yea 37 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56003
Republican03702
How each member voted

Yea (56)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 11, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

House · Concur in Senate Amendment(s)

Passed April 24, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
59 Yea 39 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat59000
Republican03900
How each member voted

Yea (59)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 24, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
59 Yea 39 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat59000
Republican03900
How each member voted

Yea (59)

Permalink to this vote
13 other recorded votes (amendments, procedural motions)

House · Amendment 382 by Burnett (page 8, line 31)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
42 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican38001
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 435 by Marshall (page 10, line 1)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
42 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican38001
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 442 by Marshall (page 10, line 1)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
42 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican38001
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 396 by Walsh (page 10, line 13)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
42 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican38001
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 420 by Steele (page 10, line 13)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
41 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 448 by Caldier (page 10, line 13)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
41 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 428 by Couture (page 10, line 34)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
93 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56003
Republican37002
How each member voted

Yea (93)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 444 by Couture (page 10, line 38)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
41 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 437 by Ley (page 11, line 11)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
41 Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat45203
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (52)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 462 by Barkis (page 13, line 10)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
92 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55103
Republican37002
How each member voted

Yea (92)

Nay (1)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 383 by Keaton (page 14, line 9)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
40 Yea 53 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat35303
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (53)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 384 by Schmidt (page 14, line 7)

March 12, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
39 Yea 54 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25403
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (54)

Excused (5)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 370 by Gildon (page 11, line 31)

April 11, 2025
Version voted on: ESHB 1296
19 Yea 30 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat03000
Republican19000
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 5/20/2025*. (ESHB 1296)
  2. Chapter 369, 2025 Laws. (ESHB 1296)
  3. Governor signed. (ESHB 1296)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESHB 1296)
  5. President signed. (ESHB 1296)
  6. Passed final passage; yeas, 59; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESHB 1296)
  7. House concurred in Senate amendments. (ESHB 1296)
  8. Speaker signed. (ESHB 1296)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESHB 1296)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESHB 1296)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (ESHB 1296)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESHB 1296)
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESHB 1296)
  14. Minority; do not pass. (ESHB 1296)
  15. WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESHB 1296)
  16. Referred to Ways & Means. (ESHB 1296)
  17. And refer to Ways & Means. (ESHB 1296)
  18. Minority; do not pass. (ESHB 1296)
  19. EDU - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESHB 1296)
  20. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. (ESHB 1296)
  21. Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 37; absent, 0; excused, 5. (ESHB 1296)
  22. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESHB 1296)
  23. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESHB 1296)
  24. Amendment ruled beyond the scope and object of the bill. (ESHB 1296)
  25. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESHB 1296)
  26. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  27. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESHB 1296)
  28. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  29. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESHB 1296)
  30. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  31. ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESHB 1296)
  32. Minority; do not pass. (ESHB 1296)
  33. Minority; do not pass.
  34. ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  35. ED - Executive action taken by committee.
  36. First reading, referred to Education.

HB 1296 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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