Washington House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, speaks during an event previewing the 2026 legislative session, alongside Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Tacoma, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Olympia. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

By Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard
January 9, 2026

Democratic leaders in the Washington state Legislature said Friday they have no plans to hold hearings on two conservative-backed initiatives focused on parental rights of students in public schools and banning transgender athletes from playing girls’ sports.

Both Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, staked out this position in remarks to reporters. It creates a high likelihood that both of…

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