2025 Lavender Rights Project Legislative Tracker

Action 1: Email Legislators: Pro Choice Washington EMAIL ACTION

Action 2: Make a video using the resources, instructions, and examples below

updated 3/7/2025 5:30pm

In the Media:

Read more in the Seattle Times — With Trans People Under Attack, time for allies to step up — Feb 10th

Read more in Real Change — Seattleites resist Trump admin’s efforts to eliminate trans rights — Feb 27th

Watch Lavender Rights Project and partners present at Seattle City Council Select Committee (March 6th, 2025)

PRIORITY LEGISLATION: bills we are actively organizing support

  • Promoting Supportive Schools (HB 1296): This bill amends I-2081 and strengthens students’ rights to privacy, extending protections for trans youth, and adding a new statement of student rights.

  • Amending I-2081 (SB 5181): This bill confirms students’ right to privacy by allowing medical and counseling records to be kept private, rather than accessible to parents without the student’s consent, which was unclear in the original I-2081. 

MONITORING: bills we are tracking and signing in PRO

  • Increasing Access to Hormone Therapy (HB 1971): This bill requires health plans that cover prescription hormone therapy to reimburse a 12-month refill of prescription hormone therapy at one time.

  • School District Compliance (SB 5179): This bill aims to ensure that all school boards follow the state anti-discrimination policies to expand student protections. 

PRIORITY GRAVEYARD: bills that died during the 2025 legislative session

Action 1:

HB 1296 — “The Safety Act” — Protecting Trans students + Educators

EMAIL NOW: Pro Choice Washington Email to Legislators

ACTION 2:

Social Media/Video Suggestions:

Any and all social media for OLYMPIA should include: #waleg, #safetyact, #protect2025

Here are our House Democrats social media accounts you can follow, share, and support with your comments.

Video Testimony Examples:

Video of Rep. Stonier introducing the bill.  (About 7 minutes)  The first two minutes are Stonier’s remarks, the rest is the questions members had, some signalling their negativity.

Videos of testimonies in support of HB 1296

Howell Hull and Albert Johnson (Students impacted personally by the foundation of HB 1296; about 3 minutes)

Briar Moreno (Individual outed by school staff, significantly impacted Briar’s life; about 1.5 minutes)

Dr. Tracy Castro Gill (Advocates for both teachers and students to be protected under HB 1296; about 2 minutes)

Samantha Fogg (Co-president of the Seattle Council PTSA, represents over 80 PTAs and fully supports the protections provided in HB 1296, about 1.5 minutes)

Courtney Norman (WA Director at Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, about 1.5 minutes)

TALKING POINTS:

What Would House Bill 1296 Do for Schools in Washington?  

For Students:  

  • Ensures student safety, access to education, and privacy are prioritized in school policies 

  • Strengthens policies to support transgender and gender-expansive students, including addressing bullying and harassment and ensuring gender-inclusive practices  

  • Ensures students have access to accurate, diverse, and inclusive curriculum, to support students feeling seen and valued 

  • Prevents a school or parent from protesting student learning about topics like the Civil Rights movement, race/racism, LGBTQ2S identities, etc.  

  • Establishes a Statement of Student Rights, ensuring students know their rights, including access to a free public education, freedom of speech and religion, and protections against discrimination 


For Parents and Families:  

  • Expands rights for enrolling children in public schools regardless of immigration status, housing or disabilities 

  • Ensures access to bilingual education, special education, and language services 


For Educators:  

  • Introduces anti-retaliation protections for teachers and staff who support students' legal rights, teach state-mandated standards, and use inclusive, culturally representative materials. 

  • Provides guidance and training on supporting transgender and gender-expansive students, with mandatory compliance rules for schools by 2026.  


Additional Protections:  

  • Strengthens enforcement by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), allowing sanctions for noncompliance with safety, privacy, and equity policies. 

  • Includes an emergency clause, making these changes effective immediately to prioritize student safety and equity in public education.