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Panel hears bill to add ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status and neurodivergence to school nondiscrimination protections
Summary
Senate Bill 5123 would expand Washington’s school nondiscrimination provisions to add four protected classes, separate gender identity/expression from sexual orientation, and require OSPI rulemaking; supporters cite student safety, opponents raise legal and definitional concerns.
Senate Bill 5123 was presented to the Early Learning & K‑12 Education Committee as a measure to expand protections in Washington schools by explicitly adding ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status and neurodivergence to the list of protected classes and by separating sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression into distinct categories.
Committee staff said OSPI would develop regulations and guidelines to eliminate discrimination, monitor compliance and enforce the law; the…
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