BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5181

SB 5181: Parents rights in education

Amending the parents rights initiative to bring it into alignment with existing law.

Summary

Modifies certain rights of parents and guardians of children enrolled in public school.
Removes rights related to notification requirements regarding medical services and treatment.
Lists ten additional rights of parents and guardians and includes cross references to existing state law for each.
Adds that these rights do not create a private right of action.

From the Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill Report (ESSB 5181), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House

IntroducedJan 13, 2025
Out of committeeJan 24, 2025
Passed SenateFeb 5, 2025
Passed HouseApr 14, 2025
Governorstopped here
Law

Prime sponsor: Claire Wilson (D-30)
Introduced: January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action: January 12, 2026
Budget: Has a fiscal note
Versions: SB 5181, SSB 5181, ESSB 5181

AN ACT Relating to amending the parents rights initiative to bring it into alignment with existing law;

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 5, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	30	0	0	0
Republican	0	19	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (30)

Nay (19)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

56 Yea 39 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	56	1	0	2
Republican	0	38	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (56)

Nay (39)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

6 other recorded votes (amendments, procedural motions)

House · Postpone Indefinitely

April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

38 Yea 58 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	0	58	0	1
Republican	38	0	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (38)

Nay (58)

Excused (2)

Shelley Kloba D-1
Gloria Mendoza R-14

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 1153 by Volz (page 4, line 14)

April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

38 Yea 58 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	0	58	0	1
Republican	38	0	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (38)

Nay (58)

Excused (2)

Shelley Kloba D-1
Gloria Mendoza R-14

Permalink to this vote

House · COM Education Striker

April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

92 Yea 3 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	57	0	0	2
Republican	35	3	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (92)

Nay (3)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

House · Motion to Place Measure on Final Passage as Amended by the House

April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

57 Yea 38 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	57	0	0	2
Republican	0	38	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (57)

Nay (38)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

House · Demand the Previous Question

April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

57 Yea 38 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	57	0	0	2
Republican	0	38	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (57)

Nay (38)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

House · Demand the Previous Question

April 14, 2025

Version voted on: ESSB 5181

57 Yea 38 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	57	0	0	2
Republican	0	38	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (57)

Nay (38)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

History

Jan 12, 2026Senate Rules "X" file. (ESSB 5181)
Apr 27, 2025Returned to Senate Rules 3. (ESSB 5181)
Apr 14, 2025Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5181)
Apr 14, 2025Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (ESSB 5181)
Apr 14, 2025Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 3. (ESSB 5181)
Apr 10, 2025Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5181)
Apr 2, 2025Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5181)
Mar 31, 2025ED - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5181)
Mar 31, 2025Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5181)
Mar 31, 2025ED - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5181)
Feb 7, 2025First reading, referred to Education. (ESSB 5181)
Feb 5, 2025Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5181)
Feb 5, 2025Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5181)
Feb 5, 2025Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5181)
Feb 5, 20251st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5181)
Feb 5, 20251st substitute bill substituted.
Jan 29, 2025Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5181)
Jan 29, 2025Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Jan 24, 2025Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5181)
Jan 24, 2025Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Jan 23, 2025EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5181)
Jan 23, 2025Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5181)
Jan 23, 2025Minority; do not pass.
Jan 23, 2025EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Jan 13, 2025First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.
Jan 8, 2025Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5181 in other sessions

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

SB 5181 (2023–24) Medical assistants · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor
SB 5181 (2021–22) Low-income school districts · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 5181 (2019–20) Invol. treatment procedures · Enacted · Chapter 247, Laws of 2019
SB 5181 (2017–18) Long-term care/monitoring · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor
SB 5181 (2015–16) State fire service/disasters · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5181 (2013–14) Flame retardants · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5181 (2011–12) State debt statutory limit · Enacted · Chapter 46, Laws of 2011, 1st Special Session
SB 5181 (2009–10) Local toxics control account · Did not pass · died in committee

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SB 5181: Parents rights in education

Summary

Sponsors

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yea (30)

Nay (19)

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yea (56)

Nay (39)

Excused (3)

House · Postpone Indefinitely

Yea (38)

Nay (58)

Excused (2)

House · Amendment 1153 by Volz (page 4, line 14)

Yea (38)

Nay (58)

Excused (2)

House · COM Education Striker

Yea (92)

Nay (3)

Excused (3)

House · Motion to Place Measure on Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yea (57)

Nay (38)

Excused (3)

House · Demand the Previous Question

Yea (57)

Nay (38)

Excused (3)

House · Demand the Previous Question

Yea (57)

Nay (38)

Excused (3)

History

SB 5181 in other sessions