Signature verification underway on parents' bill of rights

OLYMPIA – An initiative to combat “woke” agendas in public schools is undergoing signature verification.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs confirmed Tuesday, Jan. 9, that Initiative 2081 has enough signatures to be presented to the Legislature or to voters, provided the signatures meet state requirements established under state law.

Initiative 2081 would create a “parents bill of rights” countering efforts to limit parental input and decision-making in alternative sexual lifestyle discussions on campus.

Sponsors submitted 423,399 signatures Dec. 12; the measure needs at least 324,516 verified signatures to advance to the Legislature on the next general election ballot.

Under the initiative, parents are identified as the “primary stakeholders” in raising and educating children, including sexual orientation.

If approved by the Legislature or voters, it would codify parental rights in education, giving parents access to all educational materials and their child’s records, including standardized and other test scores, assessment scores, medical and health records, discipline, counseling, attendance, sexual preference and other screening results, and all “student-specific files, documents, or other materials that are maintained by the public school.”

The initiative also requires prior permission from parents to receive medical and mental health care, as well as requires immediate notification of any criminal investigation involving their children.

The measure would guarantee parents the ability to opt children out of surveys, recordings and any activity involving a child’s sexual experiences and “attractions,” family religious , political and other beliefs, and mental health issues.

According to Hobbs, state officials will examine a 3% random sample of the signatures to verify they are from sufficient, legitimate state voters.

If sufficient signatures are verified, the Legislature may approve an initiative or send it to voters.

If an initiative is rejected by the Legislature, or the Legislature takes no action by March 7, the Secretary of State will certify the initiative for the next general election.

The Legislature may also pass an alternative proposal to accompany an initiative on the ballot.

“Many significant state laws have been adopted due to the initiative process since Washington became one of the first states to enact it in 1912,” Hobbs said.

“My office’s responsibility is to ensure it runs fairly, efficiently, and smoothly.