OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Democrat-sponsored bill that seeks to rewrite the state’s parental “bill of rights” in schools is moving forward.

SB 5181 passed through the state Senate yesterday, Feb. 6 on a party-line vote of 30-19. It comes as a response to an initiative that passed last year with bipartisan support, which outlines 15 parental rights relating to their student’s public-school education.

The bill looks to revise some of the initiative’s rules regarding how parents are notified when their child receives non-emergency medical services and access to their student’s records.

Critics argue the initiative’s broad wording could harm students seeking access to birth control, counseling related to their gender identity or support for sexual assault or domestic violence. But Republicans argue that the bill’s proposed revisions are an attempt to weaken parental rights.

The debate has garnered national attention after President Trump reshared a post on his social media platform Truth Social that criticized Washington state Democrats for pushing the bill.

It now heads to the state House for further consideration.