Washington Democrats want to keep parents in the dark
Who needs parents anyway?
Washington Democrats have a message for parents: Your role in raising your child is officially optional.
In a move that would make Big Brother proud, state lawmakers are working overtime to ensure you—the parent—are kept in the dark about critical decisions affecting your own children. Last year, Initiative 2081 (I-2081), also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, was passed to guarantee that parents have access to their children’s educational materials and health records.
Sounds reasonable, right? After all, last March it was passed into law unanimously in the Senate and by an overwhelming 82-15 majority in the House.
Well, apparently Democrats hated it.
Now, they’re pushing House Bill 1296 (HB 1296) to roll back those parental rights—because apparently, letting moms and dads know what’s happening with their kids is just too risky.
And if you had any doubts about how much they want to cut you out of the picture, just listen to Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), who spelled it out loud and clear on in a Feb. 5 interview on Fox News:
“Kids over 13 have the complete right to make their own decisions about their mental health care. Parents don’t have a right to have notice. They don’t have a right to have consent about that.”
No notice. No consent. No role for parents.
What HB 1296 Would Do
HB 1296 guts key parental rights under I-2081, particularly around parental notification. If this bill passes, here’s what’s at stake:
Delays Parental Notification – Schools no longer have to inform parents immediately if their child seeks mental health treatment. Instead, they get 48 hours to decide whether or not you deserve to know.
More Government, Less Family – This bill expands the power of schools and government agencies to act in place of parents, giving them broad discretion to decide what’s best for your child.
Erodes Trust Between Families and Schools – Parents should be the first to know if their child is struggling, not the last. This bill tells parents that they’re not trusted to handle their own child’s well-being.
Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Monica Jurado Stonier is trying to reassure parents that everything is fine, claiming the 48-hour delay is just to “get the facts clear” before informing parents. But let’s be honest—how often does government secrecy work out in parents’ favor?
Now They Want a 48-Hour Delay for Reporting Assaults, Too?
As if delaying parental notification on mental health wasn’t bad enough, Washington Democrats just blocked an effort to eliminate a 48-hour reporting delay for scholastic assaults.
Yes, you read that right. If your child is assaulted at school, administrators get two full days before they’re required to tell you.
And when Republican lawmakers tried to eliminate this delay—arguing that parents should be informed immediately—Democrats shut it down.
Apparently, they think bureaucratic paperwork is more important than parents knowing their child was harmed at school.
Just like with HB 1296, this is another example of Washington Democrats systematically reducing parental involvement. Whether it’s healthcare, education, or school safety, the trend is clear: parents are the last to know.
This Isn’t About “Helping Kids” – It’s About Controlling Parents
Supporters of HB 1296 claim that some children fear talking to their parents about mental health issues. That’s a real concern, and there should absolutely be safeguards for kids in dangerous home environments.
But a blanket policy that assumes all parents are unfit to help their own children? That’s something else entirely.
This bill isn’t about protecting kids. It’s about stripping away parental rights and letting government officials—not families—decide what’s best for children.
And if you think this stops at mental health decisions, think again. The same lawmakers behind HB 1296 have been pushing policies that:
Block parents from knowing if their child is undergoing gender transitions at school
Keep parents in the dark about controversial classroom curriculums
Expand minors’ ability to access medical services without parental consent
And now, delay reporting school assaults to parents for 48 hours
The writing is on the wall: Washington Democrats don’t want parents involved in their kids’ lives unless they’re following the government’s script.
What Can You Do?
If you believe parents—not politicians—should be raising their children, it’s time to take action:
✅ Call Your Legislators – Demand they vote NO on HB 1296 and restore parental rights.
✅ Show Up Locally – Attend school board meetings, legislative hearings, and community forums. Make your voice heard.
✅ Stay Informed – Subscribe to The Steelhead Alliance and keep up with the fight to protect parental rights.
At the end of the day, no politician should have more say over your child than you do. Washington Democrats may want to keep parents in the dark, but we’re here to shine a light on what’s really happening.