The bill aims to strengthen protections for students in Washington state by mandating that all schools implement gender-inclusive policies and procedures. It requires school districts to adopt or amend their policies to align with a model policy that guarantees specific rights for students, such as being addressed by their preferred name and pronouns, participating in activities consistent with their gender identity, and using restrooms that correspond with their gender expression. Additionally, the legislation mandates the appointment of a primary contact within each school district to oversee compliance with these policies.

The bill also introduces provisions that protect personnel who support students in exercising their rights from retaliation and ensures that no employee is compelled to disclose a student's sexual orientation or gender identity without consent. It amends existing laws to clarify school districts' responsibilities regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying, ensuring these policies are inclusive of gender identity and expression. Notably, the bill replaces references to "transgender students" with "gender inclusive schools" in relevant legal language and emphasizes that harassment, intimidation, or bullying can arise from various characteristics and take multiple forms, including electronic communication.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.642.080, 28A.715.020, 28A.300.535, 28A.642.090