Washington House approves overhaul of school restraint and isolation practices after extended debate

The Washington state House approved Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1795 on reconsideration after a daylong floor debate over the use of isolation and restraint in schools. The bill bans mechanical and chemical restraints, clarifies definitions of isolation and restraint, and sets a policy trajectory with implementation steps and reporting requirements culminating in a phased end to certain isolation practices by 2031.

Supporters framed the legislation as a student-safety and civil-rights measure. Representative Callan, a bill sponsor, said the measure seeks to "ensure that every student and every educator is feeling safe, ready to learn, and capable of learning." Representative Taylor pressed the scale of the problem in stark terms, saying, "87 percent of the kids have disabilities," arguing those populations are disproportionately affected by current…