 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We have now wrapped up 26 days of the legislative session, or almost exactly one-quarter of the 105 days allowed. The full Senate met on Wednesday to approve several (mostly) non-controversial bills, but the majority of our time was focused on working legislation at the committee level.
The big news of the week was the Senate debate on parental rights. You can read more about that, and other issues, below.
I hope you will contact my office when you have questions or concerns about legislation being debated or the actions of state government. I appreciate hearing your input and your ideas for smarter, more efficient and effective government. And most importantly, your feedback helps me better represent you and our district in Olympia.
As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve as your voice in the Washington State Senate.
Sincerely,
 Keith Wagoner
(R-39th District)
 Battle over parental rights reaches the Senate floor
Two of my amendments were accepted prior to the Democrat bill being approved in a party-line vote.
 Click here to watch me argue for two important changes to SB 5181. Both of my amendments were accepted, but I still vote NO on this legislation to weaken parental rights.
The big news this week came from the Democrat Majority's actions to undermine the Parents' Bill of Rights (Initiative 2081). These rights include the ability to:
- Review instructional materials.
- Inspect and receive a copy of their child's records within 10 days of a written request.
- Receive notifications of medical services offered to their child (except in emergencies), medical services or medications provided.
- Opt their children out of certain surveys, assignments, and instructional topics, including those related to sexuality.
In 2024, more than 454,000 people signed the Initiative to the Legislature, and the Senate approved it unanimously. It passed the House 82-15. Since the Legislature approved the initiative, it did not show up on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2024, general election.
Just one year later, Democrats are now trying to gut the initiative through Senate Bill 5181. The measure, which passed the Senate on a party-line vote, strips away several key provisions of the parental rights law, and even includes an emergency clause, which denies Washingtonians their right of referendum.
Senate Republicans offered several amendments aimed at defending parental rights, succeeding with my proposals to ensure immediate parental notification regarding specific medical- and crime-related actions.
These accepted amendments changed the bill for the better, restoring parents' right to know immediately if their child was injured, received medical attention, was a victim of a crime, a suspect in a crime, or being held for interrogation. Without these changes, schools would not be required to notify parents for potentially up to 48 hours.
SB 5181, which passed the Senate by a vote of 30-19, now goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration. The House committee hearing on the bill is likely to be one of your last chances to be heard on this important issue.
Audio:
On-Air: Defending our Second Amendment rights
Click here to listen now.
Sen. Keith Wagoner talks to Lars Larson about protecting the right to keep and bear arms, enshrined in the Washington and U.S. Constitutions, and prosecuting gun crime.
Click here to listen now.
In the News:
Washington senator takes another crack with wolf bill
By Don Jenkins, Capital Press | Jan. 31, 2025
 A Republican senator reintroduced a bill that would let ranchers shoot the first wolf that returned to the scene of an attack on livestock, calling it a more effective way to keep predations from escalating.
The response to an attack would be swifter and more likely target the wolf that killed the livestock, said Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley.
“The way Fish and Wildlife does it now, the odds are they’re not getting the right wolf,” he said. “They launch a helicopter and kill a wolf in the area.”
Senate Bill 5590 was sent Jan. 30 to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Wagoner made the same proposal last year. The bill got a hearing, but didn’t have enough support to pass the committee. Wagoner said the committee’s new chairman, Sen. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, has committed to giving the bill another hearing.
Click here to read more.
In the News:
Bill Republicans say would undo 'parents' bill of rights' initiative moves forward
By Carleen Johnson, The Center Square | Jan 31, 2025
...Minority party Republicans offered several amendments ahead of the legislation’s final passage, and some were adopted, including one offered by Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley.
“This simply restores the right of a parent to know immediately if their child has been the victim of a crime or may be involved in a crime,” he said. “There’s no more sacred right or instinctual right of a parent than the care of their children.”
Click here to read the full article.
In closing...
Cavelero freshman Abhinav Bandaru pages at the Senate
 This week I had the pleasure of sponsoring Abhinav Bandaru, a freshman at Cavelero Mid High School, to page for the Senate here in Olympia.
The page program is a great opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working at the Legislature and attending page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a legislative mock session.
Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit the official legislative website.
The last day to apply for the Senate Page Program for the 2025 session is March 17, 2025, or until all available openings are filled. Applications for the 2026 legislative session open November 1, 2025.
|
