The Roundup: Issues that impact Washington families

Being a parent is nonstop hard work, which makes following all the news happening in the city, state, and U.S. decision-making circles challenging. Here are highlights of Washington state political news for families from last week (July 21-28) and a hint at what’s up this week. I hope you will consider taking action – reaching out to those who represent you and your family in Congress and state offices — on the issues that impact families in our state.

Hey honey, it’s your turn!

Are you a mom who has wanted to say just that to your male co-parent while out on a family outing? Or, to your baby’s grandfather during a family vacation? Or another male caregiver who’s gotten off the hook for diaper changes due to the lack of baby changing stations in public places?

Washington code just stepped up for you.

As of July 1, a new state law requires that any new construction of a public building include at least one baby diaper changing station that is accessible to both men’s and women’s restrooms, or located in a gender-neutral bathroom. If the station isn’t in a restroom, there must be signs posted to direct parents and other caregivers to the changing station.

And not just new buildings. The same rule applies to any public building renovation that costs more than $15,000. The new state law mirrors a law that has governed federal buildings for nearly a decade.

5 million above-ground pools recalled

The deaths of nine children have prompted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall nearly 5 million above-ground pools, 48-inch and taller, that use compression straps. The pools are made by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup.

According to the commission, the straps wrap around the pool on the outside of supporting poles, and can create a foothold that may allow kids to climb into the pool and drown. The commission warns that even when the pool’s ladder is removed, young children can still gain access to the pool using the straps. According to the recall announcement, “CPSC believes that nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old have drowned after gaining access to the pools via the footholds.”

Click here to read the recall notice and find out what you need to do if you have one of the recalled pools.

Special ed services age limit now 22 

As of July 1, Washington’s public schools are required to offer special education services until the end of the school year in which a student turns 22 or graduates from high school (whichever comes first). Previously, the service age limit was 21. The new law could impact as many as 1,200 students in the state, according to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Lawmakers tackled the issue during the 2025 legislative session to bring the state into compliance with a federal law that dictates how long states must provide a “free, appropriate public education.”

A win for birthright citizenship

Washington attorneys and judges are on a roll. Last week, a federal appeals court upheld a Seattle judge’s decision to block nationwide the executive order restricting birthright citizenship that President Donald Trump signed on the first day of his presidency.

According to a report in the Washington State Standard, appeals court judges called the order “blatantly unconstitutional,” stating that it violates the 14th Amendment. That amendment ensures that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

“One power that the president was not granted is the power to modify or change any clause of the United States Constitution,” Judge Ronald Gould, a Clinton appointee, wrote in his opinion.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, who launched the lawsuit with attorneys general from other states, applauded the ruling in a statement released last Wednesday.

“The court agrees that the president cannot redefine what it means to be American with the stroke of a pen,” Brown said. “He cannot strip away the rights, liberties, and protections of children born in our country.”

According to plaintiffs, in 2022 there were about 4,000 babies born in Washington state whose parents were both without legal immigration status, compared with about 153,000 such babies nationwide. Trump’s order could lead to the loss of federal funding for Medicaid to serve these children.

Two Muslim celebrations are now state holidays

As of July 1, Washington is the first state in the nation to designate  Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official state holidays, albeit unpaid ones. 

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the two most significant Islamic festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide, including more than 100,000 in Washington. 

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, and is a time of gratitude, spiritual renewal, and unity within the community. Eid al-Adha occurs approximately two months after Eid al-Fitr, during the Hajj pilgrimage season, which falls in the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It honors the Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) obedience to God and symbolizes faith, devotion, and willingness to submit to God’s will.

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill designating an unpaid state holiday for the celebrations in April, which went into effect July 1. In 2026, Eid al-Fitr is expected to be on March 20, and Eid al-Adha is expected to be on May 27.

Another win for Planned Parenthood

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction last week against a provision in the Trump administration’s “big beautiful bill” that would keep Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood. The bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by the president on July 4.

In a 36-page opinion, District Court Judge Indira Talwani wrote that the new law goes against Planned Parenthood’s First Amendment rights. 

“A preliminary injunction maintains Planned Parenthood Members’ ability to seek Medicaid reimbursements — and maintain their status quo level of service to patients,” Talwani wrote. “And an injunction requiring Defendants to continue funding Medicaid reimbursements in accordance with the status quo imposes no additional Medicaid costs on Defendants, where there is no dispute that Medicaid funds will still be provided only for reimbursable healthcare services.”

After the ruling, the Trump administration filed a notice saying that it plans to appeal the injunction ruling. 

In the meantime, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has vowed to fill at least part of the Planned Parenthood funding gap caused by federal actions against its services. Read more on this story at Washington State Standard.

King County Council approves community safety tax

The King County Council recently voted to approve the Safe and Stable Communities Sales Tax, a measure to protect public safety, preserve essential services, and stabilize King County’s budget amid a projected $160 million deficit.

The legislation levies a 0.1% sales and use tax (10 cents on a $100 purchase). Revenue from the tax will maintain and strengthen King County’s criminal justice, behavioral health, and public safety systems.

“Without this revenue, the consequences would have been severe and immediate,” Council Chair Girmay Zahilay said in a release following the vote. 

The new tax will allow King County to:

• Prevent layoffs in the Sheriff’s Office, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Department of Public Defense
• Sustain court operations and victim advocacy programs
• Support behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use treatment
• Invest in diversion, gun violence prevention, and domestic violence response efforts

It takes effect on October 1, 2025, with revenue collection beginning in January 2026. 

U.S. Education Department to unfreeze contested K-12 funds

Schools and after-school programs all over Washington and the U.S. are breathing a sigh of relief this week after the Trump administration said it would release the $5.5 billion in U.S. Education Department funding that it froze weeks ago. The freeze resulted in delays in the expected funding for K-12 schools.

The announcement follows the release of $1.3 billion by the department in mid-July for before- and after-school programs, which is helping to fund current summer programs.

Most of the frozen funds are earmarked for English-language learning and other programs that serve migrants.  The money was allocated by Congress and meant to go to schools and programs before July 1. Instead, the administration gave schools only one day’s notice that it was withholding the funds to “review” them. A spokesperson for the Department of Education told reporters at the State’s Newsroom that the review is now done.

Madi Biedermann, a Department of Education spokesperson, wrote in an email to States Newsroom that the White House budget office “has completed its review” of the remaining accounts and “has directed the Department to release all formula funds.” Read more on the story at The News From the States. 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal met the announcement with relief. If funds had been permanently held, Washington stood to lose $137 million in federal K–12 funding. 

Just when you think he can’t get more cruel …

There are approximately 16,800 homeless adults and children in King County and more than 750,000 across the country. Most of them are not criminals. They are down on their luck and have no homes to go to to get off the streets or out of encampments. They are barely surviving. They are an eyesore in every city, sure. But just as sure, they don’t deserve the cruelty that President Donald Trump wants to dish out.

Last week, Trump issued an executive order that, in effect, would punish homeless people. It also mandates treatment for adults and youth with mental health or substance use problems while at the same time attempting to quash proven solutions to moving people out of homelessness into housing. 

That is not only my definition of cruelty, but it also impinges on the human rights of people in all those groups. What good could possibly come from punishing people already down and out on their luck?

Thankfully, the order was met with nearly unanimous anger and offense among local political leaders in our region and those who serve the unhoused. 

“President Trump issued a bombastic Executive Order that is not focused on prevention or meaningful solutions,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Instead, it drives a false narrative to distract from failed campaign promises like bringing down prices and effectively addressing global instability.”

And the order ain’t going to happen in Seattle, he said.

“In Seattle, our approach to homelessness is driven by urgency and compassion – leading to record shelter referrals, an 80% reduction in tent encampments, and thousands of new affordable and supportive housing units,” Harrell. “We’ve reduced crime and street disorder, outpaced the county in the decline in fatal overdoses, and lowered homelessness-related gun violence by 62% since 2022. There is clearly more to do – but Seattleites are seeing tangible progress because of our dedicated approach.

Harrell admonished the president that if he really wanted to help cities, he should:

• Stop cutting the social safety net;
• Maintain investments in HUD and housing vouchers;
• And, “challenge Washington D.C.’s status quo by funding affordable housing development and treatment options at scale.”

Proud to live where I do and to have raised my kids in such a progressive state and city, even with all our problems.

Read more:

Seattle School Board primary: Meet the candidates

Voting in King County this August? Here’s what you need to know