Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson warns against parental 'bill of rights' initiative

Daniel Beekman, The Seattle Times on Sep 17, 2026

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SEATTLE — Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson joined Democratic Party lawmakers and other allies Thursday in warning voters against an initiative on the November ballot that would modify parents’ and students’ rights in public schools.

Supporters of state Initiative 001, including conservative millionaire Brian Heywood’s Let’s Go Washington political action committee, say the measure would strengthen parents’ involvement by addressing their ability to access student records and receive notifications about school activities.

But in a news conference, Ferguson and other opponents said I-001 would actually weaken parents’ rights while also putting students at risk.

The governor said he’s worried I-001 has been “flying under the radar” because other initiatives and elections have received more attention.

“It’s my strong sense that many Washingtonians aren’t aware of some of the facts around this initiative,” Ferguson said in the video news conference, later adding, “To me, this is an initiative that is taking away parents’ rights.”

In a response Thursday, Let’s Go Washington accused Ferguson and other critics of misrepresenting and misconstruing I-001 “to scare voters away from a measure that was passed with bipartisan support in 2024.”

The conversation can be confusing because of the initiative’s back story.

I-001 would restore the original text of an earlier Let’s Go Washington initiative the Legislature enacted in 2024 under pressure from Heywood’s group. It would undo some changes made by Democratic lawmakers in 2025.

I-001 supporters argue the 2025 changes did harm by removing requirements that parents be notified about certain student healthcare services and have access to certain student healthcare records, among other things.

Critics of I-001 say the 2025 changes were necessary. They say I-001 would force school counselors and teachers to share sensitive information about students with unsupportive or abusive parents. They say it would discourage some students from seeking help from trusted adults at school, including LGBTQ+ students who may be particularly vulnerable at home.

“One of the most important aspects of my job is to provide a safe, confidential space for kids who need support,” Jaime Fineman-McKinney, a school counselor in Tacoma, said during Thursday’s news conference by the No Hate in WA State campaign. “I know how reluctant kids can be.”

The campaigns for and against I-001 have been debating various details about which law would best safeguard students’ and parents’ rights.

For example, the Legislature’s current law allows schools to withhold a student’s healthcare and social work records from a parent or legal guardian during child-abuse investigations or criminal proceedings.

I-001 would allow schools to withhold healthcare records from parents during abuse investigations but doesn’t include the same language about social work records, legal guardians or criminal proceedings.

A legal analysis for Let’s Go Washington argues it would be reasonable for schools to broadly construe I-001 to cover criminal proceedings. A legal analysis for No Hate in WA State says the initiative could allow criminally-charged parents and guardians access to records.

“That is just unbelievable,” Democratic state Sen. John Lovick, a former Snohomish County sheriff, said in criticizing the initiative.

The current law requires parental notification when a school gets a report about a child being the victim of a crime at school, whereas I-001 requires notification when a crime is “deemed to have been committed.”

A legal analysis for I-001 opponents argues the ballot measure’s language could delay notification. An analysis for I-001 supporters says the language could be broadly applied and would cover crimes off school property.

On Thursday, critics described I-001 as a political attempt to divide and distract voters. The initiative, they stressed, is opposed by groups such as the WA State Parent Teacher Association and Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The Washington State Nurses Association and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates are also against it.

I-001 is endorsed by the Washington State Young Republicans and Moms for Liberty Washington, among others, according to Let’s Go Washington.

In an earlier interview, Hallie Herzberg from Let’s Go Washington said I-001 and other initiatives on the ballot this year are necessary because many voters don’t trust state officials. On Thursday, the political committee referred to I-001 opponents as advocates of keeping secrets from parents.