Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is visiting the Tri-Cities on Thursday to sign 11 bills into law, but several high-profile and controversial measures—particularly those involving parental rights, student privacy, and healthcare costs—are noticeably absent from his schedule.
One bill drawing sharp criticism is House Bill 1296. Supporters argue it enhances student safety and privacy in schools, while critics contend it marginalizes parents in critical medical and mental health decisions regarding their children. Elizabeth New of the Washington Policy Center (WPC) called on Ferguson to veto the bill, warning it could erode trust between parents and educators.
New linked the bill to national debates sparked by President Donald Trump’s executive orders recognizing only biological sex and reinforcing Title IX protections for girls in sports. Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has told districts to ignore the Trump administration’s directives, prompting investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and Education Department.
Another contentious measure is Senate Bill 5083, which New claims would raise health insurance costs and reduce access by imposing price caps on providers who serve state-insured patients. Healthcare providers and hospital representatives, already facing negative operating margins, testified against the bill during public hearings.
Ferguson has also yet to sign Senate Bill 5041, which allows striking workers to collect unemployment insurance funded by their employers. Critics, including New, argue the bill shifts financial burdens unfairly onto businesses. The bill would permit striking workers to receive benefits for up to six weeks, with reporting requirements to track the law’s impact starting in 2026.
New further criticized Senate Bill 5480, already signed into law, for eliminating medical debt from credit reports, suggesting the measure is part of a broader push toward government-controlled healthcare.
The governor’s office has not confirmed whether any of these controversial bills will be signed before the May 20 deadline. If Ferguson neither signs nor vetoes the state’s operating budget by then, it will automatically become law. Significant vetoes would trigger a special legislative session.
