SB 5123 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools.

Senate Bill 5123 expands protections against discrimination for students in Washington public schools. The bill amends existing state law to prohibit discrimination based on additional categories, including ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence. It also provides specific definitions for these new protected characteristics within the relevant chapter of state education code. This aims to promote inclusivity and ensure equity for all students in public schools.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill update changes the bill number from S-0429.1 to S-1162.1 and updates the sponsor list to reflect that the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee now leads the bill. The most significant policy change is the replacement of the detailed definition of 'immigration status' with a reference to an existing state law (RCW 43.17.420), simplifying the text while maintaining the legal standard. The bill's core purpose remains unchanged: to prohibit discrimination in Washington public schools based on various protected characteristics, including sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodivergence, and homelessness.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains the same, covering discrimination in Washington public schools, but the definition of 'immigration or citizenship status' is now tied to an external statute rather than being defined within the bill itself.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from S-0429.1 to S-1162.1, and the title was updated to 'Substitute Senate Bill 5123' to reflect its status as an amended version.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of bill sponsors was updated to show that the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee is now the primary sponsor, while retaining the original individual sponsors.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'immigration status' was replaced with 'immigration or citizenship status' and now refers to the definition in RCW 43.17.420 instead of providing a new, detailed explanation within the bill.

TIMELINE

The date the bill was read for the first time was updated from January 13, 2025, to February 6, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

32–19

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

ED - Majority; do pass.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (32-19)

senate

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Early Learning & K-12 Education.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors