WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SSB 5123

SB 5123: Discrimination in schools

Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools.

Summary

  • Adds the following protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence.
  • Separates sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity, into three separate protected classes.
  • Provides definitions for these protected classes that apply to public schools.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SSB 5123), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 28, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 6, 2025
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
T'wina Nobles (D-28)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
January 12, 2026
Companion bill
HB 1855
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5123, SSB 5123

AN ACT Relating to expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: T'wina Nobles (D-28)

8 co-sponsors (8 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Claire Wilson D-30Bob Hasegawa D-11Marko Liias D-21Liz Lovelett D-40Rebecca Saldaña D-37Vandana Slatter D-48Derek Stanford D-1Javier Valdez D-46

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 6, 2025
Version voted on: SSB 5123
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Senate Rules "X" file. (SSB 5123)
  2. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SSB 5123)
  3. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (SSB 5123)
  4. Referred to Appropriations. (SSB 5123)
  5. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5123)
  6. ED - Majority; do pass. (SSB 5123)
  7. ED - Executive action taken by committee. (SSB 5123)
  8. First reading, referred to Education. (SSB 5123)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SSB 5123)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SSB 5123)
  11. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SSB 5123)
  12. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  13. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5123)
  14. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  15. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 5123)
  16. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  17. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 5123)
  18. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5123)
  19. WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Early Learning & K-12 Education. (SSB 5123)
  20. WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Early Learning & K-12 Education.
  21. Minority; do not pass.
  22. Minority; without recommendation.
  23. Referred to Ways & Means. (SSB 5123)
  24. Referred to Ways & Means.
  25. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5123)
  26. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 5123)
  27. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5123)
  28. And refer to Ways & Means. (SSB 5123)
  29. And refer to Ways & Means.
  30. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  31. Minority; without recommendation.
  32. Minority; do not pass.
  33. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.
  34. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5123 in other sessions

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

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