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A bill that critics argue sets up a 鈥渟nitch line鈥� for reporting school districts that do not comply with state law has passed the Washington State Senate along party lines.

which cleared the chamber Monday with a 30-19 vote creates a new complaint process allowing students, parents, and even local community members to report schools for “willful noncompliance” with state education laws. Every Democrat voted in favor, while all Republicans opposed it.

Sponsored by Senator Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the bill aims to hold districts accountable for violations that could harm students or families in the state鈥檚 K-12 system.

鈥淪tudents and families should never be made to feel like they’re at risk of retribution for demanding that their schools follow the law,鈥� Wilson said during the Senate floor debate. 鈥淲hen school districts fall short, the state oftentimes needs to step in to ensure that children are protected and that rules鈥攏ot ideology鈥攁re followed.鈥�

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Snitching on schools sparks debate

The bill seeks to enforce rules on civil rights, bullying prevention, and curriculum requirements. However, its most controversial feature is the reporting mechanism, which allows complaints about a school鈥檚 noncompliance to be filed with the after local resolution efforts fail.

Once a complaint is submitted, OSPI is responsible for investigating and can impose penalties, including withholding up to 20% of a district鈥檚 state funding.

Opponents argue the bill invites excessive 鈥渨histleblowing,鈥� potentially turning parents and community members against school staff and administrators. Critics have dubbed the complaint process a 鈥渟nitch line鈥� because it permits anyone in the district鈥攊ncluding residents with no children in local schools鈥攖o file complaints.

Republicans strongly opposed the measure, with Senator Jim McCune (R-Pierce County) condemning it as “socialism” and an attack on school autonomy.

“We’re putting a strong arm on schools that don’t want to teach the horrible sex-ed bill we have in the state of Washington,鈥� McCune said. 鈥淭hey don’t want to teach gender ideology, they don’t want to teach DEI, and now you’re going to have a snitch line for them if they don’t do it.”

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State oversight vs. local control

Critics worry the bill will create an environment of distrust, where school board members and educators become targets for politically motivated grievances.

Senator Shelly Short (R-Ferry County) expressed concerns about the bill overriding local authority.

鈥淚 believe this should be local control, handled by every school district,鈥� Short said. 鈥淐omplaints should be handled locally. We should listen to them, and we should certainly listen to the parents and the students.鈥�

The debate over SB 5179 mirrors larger national tensions about the role of state and federal governments in education. Recent actions by the Trump administration have placed federal oversight at the center of school policies on LGBTQ+ rights, curriculum content, and student discipline. Critics say this bill takes a similar top-down approach at the state level.

Supporters counter that when a district openly defies state law, there must be an effective and transparent way to hold it accountable. They argue that OSPI鈥檚 involvement ensures necessary oversight and prevents violations from being ignored.

SB 5179 now moves to the House for debate.

Matt Markovich is the 成人X站 Newsradio political analyst. Follow him on聽.听