What's on your ballot, Washington.

What it doesInitiative Measure No. IL26-001 concerns parental rights relating to their children in public school. This measure would repeal amendments to a statute listing certain rights of parents and guardians of public-school children and re-enact the law as it was originally enacted by Initiative to the Legislature 2081. Should this measure be enacted into law?

What changesThe Law as It Presently Exists In 2024, the Legislature passed Initiative to the Legislature 2081, which listed certain rights of parents and guardians of public-school children. Many of those rights were already set forth elsewhere in state or federal law. In 2025, the Legislature made several changes to this list of parental and guardian rights, which again restated many rights that already existed elsewhere in state and federal law. Currently, the list of parent and guardian rights is set forth in statute at RCW 28A.605.005 and provides: Access to Educational Materials and Records: Parents and legal guardians have the right to access their child’s classroom and school-sponsored activities to observe and to examine textbooks, curriculum, and supplemental materials used in their child’s classroom in accordance with policies and procedures. Parents and legal guardians have the right to review their child’s education records by submitting a written request. Records must be provided within a reasonable period of time not to exceed 45 days. Education records are defined as official records, files, and data directly related to a student and maintained by the public school, including records in a child’s cumulative folder, records of attendance and academic work completed, records of achievement and evaluative tests, disciplinary status, test protocols, and individualized education programs.

Fiscal effectIL26-001 would restore RCW 28A.605.005 as originally passed by the Legislature in the 2024 session.

What it doesInitiative Measure No. IL26-638 concerns participation in athletics at K-12 schools. This measure would prohibit students it defines as “biologically male” from competing in certain school athletic activities intended for female students only. It would require verification of biological sex by students’ healthcare providers. Should this measure be enacted into law?

What changesThe Law as It Presently Exists In Washington, school districts may offer extracurricular sports opportunities for students. Those sports must be offered to all public school students without regard to sex, but public schools may provide separate athletic teams based on sex. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction also creates regulations and guidelines to eliminate discrimination in sports for students, and these regulations prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender identity. Public and private K-12 schools in Washington may allow individual athletes and teams to compete against athletes and teams from other schools. For public schools, a school district’s board of directors is responsible for regulating these athletic activities but may delegate that responsibility to a nonprofit organization, such as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). A nonprofit organization that regulates interschool sports may not discriminate on the basis of sex and must have written rules and policies regarding student participation. The Effect of the Proposed Measure if Approved If approved, this initiative would change participation rules for interschool sports. This initiative would, in its own language, prohibit “biologically male students from competing with and against female students” on sports teams or in individual events that are designated for female students only. This would generally prevent transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams.

Fiscal effectIL26-638 would prohibit students it defines as “biologically male” from competing in certain school athletic activities intended for female students only.

What it doesInitiative Measure No. IP26-645 concerns state and local taxes. This measure would repeal a 9.9% tax on annual individual income over $1,000,000; prohibit taxes measured by individual income and taxes on individual income or the receipt of individual income; and define “income.” This measure would decrease funding for public K-12 education, higher education (including universities and community colleges), and human services (primarily healthcare). Should this measure be enacted into law?

What changesThe Law As It Presently Exists The State of Washington imposes various taxes to raise revenue to fund state government. Those taxes include the retail sales tax, the business and occupation tax, the state property tax, the capital gains tax, and other state taxes. In 2026, the Legislature passed a law imposing a 9.9 percent tax on an individual’s receipt of income over $1,000,000, beginning in calendar year 2028. Beginning in 2029, the $1,000,000 standard deduction is increased to account for inflation. The amount of income subject to tax is based on adjusted gross income reported on federal income tax returns, with some modifications. In addition to the $1,000,000 standard deduction, taxpayers may deduct up to $100,000 for charitable contributions. The $1,000,000 standard deduction and the possible $100,000 deduction for charitable contributions apply per household, so a married couple or domestic partnership shares a single $1,000,000 deduction and up to $100,000 for charitable contributions. Additional deductions are available for certain specific situations. Certain expenses related to pass-through entities that are deducted for federal tax purposes are added to the amount subject to Washington’s tax. The law also allows certain tax credits, which lower the amount of taxes due.

Fiscal effectIP26-645 will result in an estimated loss to state revenue of $11.4 billion over state fiscal years 2027-2031.