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Previewed initiatives on parental rights and girls' sports to likely go to voters after lawmakers decline hearings
Summary
Two citizen initiatives—one affecting parental-notification rules and another restricting transgender girls' participation in girls' sports—were provisionally certified; leaders said neither chamber plans hearings and predicted the measures would likely go to the ballot for voters to decide.
Panelists described two provisionally certified initiative petitions that could reach the legislature and, if not passed, the ballot. One measure would roll back recent legislative changes on parental notification and the other would impose eligibility rules for girls' sports that critics say have a transgender subtext.
Speaker Lori Jenkins and Senate Majority Leader Jamie Peterson said they expect neither chamber to hold hearings and that the issues are more likely to be decided by voters. Peterson noted the initiatives were provisionally certified and that the legislature is unlikely to pass them; he said the Senate Democrats will not be acting to pass either measure.
Republican leaders urged hearings to allow expert testimony (WIAA, pediatricians, parents and student athletes) and argued the constitution requires initiative measures to take precedence in the legislative calendar. The debate included strong rhetorical disagreement over whether the sports measure would add invasive medical requirements; speakers on both sides disagreed on the measure's effects and necessity.
No committee action was taken during the preview. Leaders signaled they will weigh constitutional obligations and the political consequences of sending contested social-policy questions to the ballot.
