Being a parent is nonstop hard work, making it challenging to stay on top of news that impacts families in Washington state. This Hits Home is your weekly hit of news, commentary, and, occasionally, opinion. Here’s the update for the week of Jan. 12 to Jan. 18.
Bill Tracker: Keep up-to-day on legislation that impacts kids and families
The statewide nonprofit advocacy group Children’s Alliance is tracking bills that address issues of concern to parents and that impact kids of all ages. The tracker will follow the bills through the current 2026 legislative session, which end in mid-March.
Take action: Follow the Children’s Alliance Bill Tracker.
Parental rights, trans athlete initiatives most likely headed to voters
Democratic leaders in Olympia made something clear last week: they don’t plan to hold hearings on two conservative-backed initiatives dealing with parental rights in public schools and transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports. By not scheduling hearings, lawmakers effectively take legislative debate on the issues during the current session — which runs through mid-March — off the table.
Instead, legislative committee leaders say they’re content to let voters decide.
In an article published by Washington State Standard, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins made clear that neither proposal will pass the Legislature. Assuming the petitions have enough certified signatures, both measures are likely to land on the November 2026 ballot.
The initiatives, backed by Let’s Go Washington, tap into anxieties parents already carry — about transparency in schools, access to information about their children, and fairness in youth sports. One measure, IL26-001, would undo changes lawmakers made last year to a voter-approved parental “bill of rights,” including restoring parental access to student medical records. The other, IL26-638, would bar transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports.
Governor Bob Ferguson said he doesn’t object to sending the initiatives straight to voters — while also emphasizing his support for transgender kids. In a tense exchange with conservative commentator Brandi Kruse, Ferguson pushed back on what he framed as Kruse’s “obsession” with trans youth.
“Look, we live in a world right now where trans kids are going through a lot,” Ferguson said. “I want to support trans kids. We have a federal government that essentially wants to erase that community.”
Republicans said that not bringing the initiatives up in legislative hearings is disrespectful to families, particularly those with daughters involved in sports.
These questions the initiatives raise aren’t abstract. They live at kitchen tables, in school hallways, and on playing fields. By sidestepping hearings, lawmakers may be following the rules — but they’re also guaranteeing a louder, more polarized fight at the ballot box this fall.
Take action: Should lawmakers take up IL26-001 and IL26-638 in committee hearings during the 2026 session of the Washington State Legislature? Tell lawmakers how you feel. Contact members of the Washington State House of Representatives and Washington State Senate.
A delicious community builder from the local public health department
Public Health—Seattle & King County focuses on helping families improve their health and well-being. Cooking tasty meals that are also relatively light on climate impact is one way to do just that.
Last week, the department made “A Shared Table: Delicious, Climate-Friendly Recipes from King County,” available for free download. The cookbook features family-friendly vegetarian and low-meat recipes contributed by local residents. Its plant-forward focus highlights an emphasis on cooking with a lower environmental impact.
That’s because food production is a major driver of climate change, particularly when forests are cleared for livestock, reducing the number of trees that help regulate greenhouse gases. Climate-friendly cooking often means eating less meat and dairy and using ingredients from local farms and sources.
Health department community navigators recruited local cooks to share their favorite low-impact dishes for the book, which pulls from a wide range of cultures and traditions. Meera Forespring, a community navigator with United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, helped bring the project together.
“Food is one of the most beautiful universal expressions of love, and I was so happy to highlight typically underrepresented cuisines through this book,” Forespring said in a post on the Public Health Insider blog.
“The joy and challenges of organizing and documenting recipes for a community cookbook are truly rewarding,” added Mercedes Hakim, a community navigator who contributed her recipe for rajas with eggplant and corn. “They foster a sense of connection, purpose, and belonging.”
House Bill 2369 promotes the use of local food in public schools. (Image: Tilth Alliance)
Speaking of good food: Bill promotes use of locally grown food in school lunches
Research shows that eating locally grown food is better for kids and better for the environment. And, it’s the impetus behind Washington House Bill 2369, which promotes the use of local food in public schools. The proposed law, sponsored by 13 Democrats, would make it easier for Washington schools to buy and serve food grown within the state by integrating procurement of locally grown fruits, veggies and other food into the existing federal food distribution systems.
Tilth Alliance, a Seattle-based statewide non-profit dedicated to building a sustainable, and equitable local food system, is advocating for the measure. In an email to members last week, the organization wrote: “Our kids deserve healthy, locally sourced food that nourishes their bodies and their minds. Washington farmers deserve a marketplace that prioritizes food and goods grown within our borders. These two things go hand in hand to sustain a resilient and vibrant food economy.”
HB 2369 is Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Take action: Want to see more locally grown foods on your child’s school lunch plate? Let your representatives in Olympia know. Sign up to testify for or against the bill. Contact members of the Washington State House of Representatives and Washington State Senate.
Proposed police face-mask ban gains traction among state lawmakers
As protesters and masked agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement clashed in Minnesota — and President Donald Trump vowing to expand ICE enforcement powers and then agents “absolute immunity” — lawmakers in Washington are taking a closer look at law enforcement identification.
In the first week of the 2026 legislative session, a proposed ban on police face coverings gained traction in Olympia, where Gov. Bob Ferguson and Democratic leaders voiced their support for it.
The proposed law, Senate Bill 5855, would apply to local, state, and federal law enforcement and stems from fears about masked federal agents carrying out immigration raids and arrests. Introduced by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, and Rep. Julio Cortes, D-Everett, the bill resembles a California mask ban that took effect Jan. 1. An identical version of the legislation (HB 2137) has started its run in the House.
The proposal aligns with Washington’s existing requirement that officers be “reasonably identifiable.” Current law requires officers’ uniforms to display names and other identifying details. The bill includes exemptions, such as protective gear like motorcycle helmets and face coverings used during undercover operations. Ferguson highlighted the measure in his State of the State address.
“As an American, I never thought I would see federal agents in masks jumping out of unmarked cars and grabbing people off our streets,” Ferguson said. “Let’s get that legislation to my desk immediately.”
No surprisingly, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs do not back the legislation, saying the current law is enough to keep citizens safe and that any such law would need more exemptions.
Take action: Do you have thoughts on the use of identity-obscuring face masks by law enforcement? Make your voice heard by contacting members of the Washington State House of Representatives and Washington State Senate.
Mayor Katie Wilson pays fine for child care help during campaign
Mayor Katie Wilson recently paid a fine that underscores an important reality: Seattle does not have a universally affordable child care system that allows parents with moderate or low incomes to easily run for public office.
Wilson was required to pay $250 for failing to report $10,000 her parents gave her to help cover child care for her then–2-year-old daughter during her mayoral campaign. The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission said the funds should have been disclosed as an in-kind contribution. Wilson has since repaid her parents for any amount above the legal contribution limit.
But this raises a bigger question: Why should any hard-working community organizer — Wilson was the co-founder and longtime leader of the Transit Riders Union before becoming mayor — need family donations to afford child care while working, whether on a campaign or in public office? Why does the unsubsidized cost of care for two children under age 2 approach $50,000 a year in Seattle?
You’ll find more context in the current issue Seattle’s Child Magazine, which explores what it would take for the city to achieve a universally affordable child care system. Today, more than 60,000 Seattle children could benefit from licensed care, yet the city has only about 27,000 available slots.
What’s ahead for WA education this legislative session
State lawmakers will be grappling with how to close a projected $2.3 billion 2027 budget deficit as the 2026 legislative session unfolds. The state’s K–12 education budget is unlikely to face major cuts, but early learning and higher education programs are widely expected to be on the chopping block.
The Seattle Times’ “What’s ahead for WA education this legislative session” offers a useful overview for families interested in education policy during the months ahead.
First dogs, now Wi-Fi: Washington State Ferries rises on the family-friendly scale
When you have kids, you look for inexpensive ways to entertain them — ideally with an educational twist. When my kids were growing up, one reliable option was riding Washington State Ferries (WSF). We’d walk on in Seattle, Edmonds, or Mukilteo, study the maps, chat with crew members, and watch for wildlife along the way.
Last year, WSF addressed one long-standing wish: dogs are now allowed on board. And this year, the system plans a limited trial of free Wi-Fi. The trial will be available only at the Bremerton terminal and on the ferry Chimacum, with testing expected to begin next summer.
Why not systemwide? Installing Wi-Fi is costly, and the state is facing budget constraints. WSF will assess rider demand before considering broader expansion. Read the full story in Washington State Standard.
Take action: Want Wi-Fi on more ferries? Reach out to WSF and let them know. Email [email protected]
The must-listen: A conversation with a trans high school track champion
If you’re trying to understand the debate around transgender athletes — particularly as the U.S. Supreme Court hears challenges to bans in other states — KUOW has a helpful listen.
Washington does not ban trans athletes from school sports, having passed protections in 2007. However, a Let’s Go Washington initiative seeking to bar trans girls from girls’ sports is undergoing signature verification and could appear on the November ballot.
KUOW recently aired “A WA trans high school track champion and the reporter who followed her,” featuring Verónica Garcia, a Spokane Valley runner and two-time 2A state champion in the 400 meters, and Washington Post reporter Casey Parks. Whatever your perspective, the conversation humanizes the issue and offers food for thought.
In related news: Washington has joined a suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for what a multistate coalition argues is unlawful discrimination against transgender people via new strictures placed on federal grant funding. Check out that story in Washington State Standard.
Listening to youth — a good start for Mayor Wilson
If you want to make a city a better place, there’s no better place to start than asking its youth what’s most important to them. What do they think about the educational opportunities the city offers? Do they feel safe in Seattle? Do they have access to enough workforce development and civic engagement?
Mayor Katie Wilson got off to a strong start this month by partnering with the youth-led organization Washington Bus to host the first of three listening sessions with Seattle youth, from high school through post-college.
According to South Seattle Emerald, feedback from the sessions may inform future policy decisions. The next session is scheduled for Jan. 21 at the Husky Union Building at the University of Washington.
Take action: Have teens interested in Seattle’s future? Encourage them to register. Space is limited.
Missed Gov. Ferguson’s 2026 State of the State Address last week?
No problem. But as state lawmakers grapple with balancing a $2.3 billion budget for the current biennium, it’s worth a parent’s while to hear where Ferguson things we’re at in meeting the needs of kids, families and other state residents. Watch the speech here:
Seattle Children’s Theatre will assess upcoming Kennedy Center run
The Seattle Children’s Theater (SCT) is eager for young audiences to seeits new “action-packed” production, “Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story.” Those in Seattle will see the show during its run in SCT’s Eve Alvord Theater Feb. 19 to March 15.
Whether it reaches a broader audience at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., however, remains to be seen. The show’s run there is scheduled for April 11-19. However, a number of artists and groups have canceled performances at the renowned venue as protest to attempts to change the building’s name to Trump-Kennedy Center. SCT officials told KUOW last week they would pause and discuss Young Dragon’s “path forward” with the cast and production team before confirming whether or not the show will go on in D.C..
“We are eager for this important story to be told as widely as possible, and the Kennedy Center reaches a large number of families, schools, and young audiences,” a spokesperson for Seattle Children’s Theater told the radio station. “However, we recognize that circumstances have changed, and we are in conversation this week with SCT’s cast and creative team to assess the path forward.”
No matter what the theater decides, I appreciate its pause and its conversation with cast and creators as to whether new Kennedy Center leadership aligns with SCT values.
It would be a shame not to share a wonderful new production the broader audience of a D.C. production would certainly bring. At the same time, not doing so could provide kids a valuable lesson in and of itself.
Want Washington to take philanthropic gifts to support early learning?
When the Ballmer Group announced it would donate up to $170 million a year to open as many as 10,000 seats in the state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), early learning advocates across Washington cheered. Next week, lawmakers will hear two bills that would establish the Pre-K Promise Account, which would allow the state to accept the Ballmer gift as well as other philanthropic investments intended to support ECEAP.
Take action: Do you have an opinion, for or against this bill? You can sign in and let lawmakers know as part of the hearing process. Sign in and give your position on Senate Bill 5872 by Monday, January 19th, at 3 p.m. Sign in and give your position on House Bill 2159 by Wednesday, January 21st, at 3 p.m.
