No bill is ever truly “dead” until the legislature adjourns for good at the end of a two-year legislative cycle. Majority Democrats in the Senate proved that this week when they resurrected SB 5395, a bill to impose a controversial new sex education program in public schools for children as young as age six.

The bill passed in the Senate last February, but failed to advance before the 2019 legislative session ended in April. Majority Democrats brought the bill up again and passed it, without further public input, hearings, or amendments on Wednesday by a 28-21 partisan vote. Sen. Tim Sheldon (D-Mason County), who frequently joins with Republicans, was the only Democrat to vote against the bill.

The sex education courses would tell children how to identify and respond to attitudes about sexual behavior and would promote conscious and voluntary agreement before engaging in sexual activity. 

Democrats said the bill would allow parents to have their children excused from sex education classes, but Republicans countered that the bill weakens the authority of parents and local school boards, depriving them of the opportunity to set their own standards for their community and their children.  They also noted that the bill would single out children who didn’t participate and subject them to embarrassment and peer pressure.

Sen. Brad Hawkins (R-East Wenatchee) said Republicans are not opposed to responsible sex education, but “we do have significant concerns about the state mandating sex education across all 295 of our school districts. We feel that is a significant erosion of local control and that those closest to an issue like this are usually in the best position to make decisions.”

Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) said: “Comprehensive sexual education is about safety, first and foremost.” “It does not direct teachers to instruct students on how to have sex or how to promote sexual activity,” she added.

The bill was sent to the House Education Committee, which is also considering a House version of the bill, HB 2184.

Meanwhile, the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a public hearing on HB 2529, to eliminate statewide general elections in odd-numbered years.  The bill would essentially keep voters from considering initiatives and referenda during those years, but would still allow special elections by local governments and school districts to raise taxes.

The bill’s sponsors, including Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-Des Moines), Rep. Debra Entenman (D-Kent), and Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), claim that initiatives and referenda should be banned in odd years due to lower voter turnout. However, under the bill, proposals for local tax increases would remain acceptable in odd years via special elections by local governments and school districts while Washingtonians would be denied their constitutional right of initiative and referendum in those same years.

The bill is scheduled for executive action by the committee on January 31st. A companion measure in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee (SB 6503) has not yet been scheduled for consideration.

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