Policy Advocacy

Protecting Health Care Providers from Harassment

Bill Number: HB 2176  | Outcome: Stalled

This bill updates the Washington Public Records Act to keep health care providers safe from harassment and violence. It limits access to documents that would allow extremists to fish for personal information about providers who provide a specific kind of care, such as abortion care, gender-affirming care, and vaccinations.

Legal Voice helped draft this bill and led the effort to pass it.

Ensuring Access to Abortion Medication

Bill Number: HB 2182 & SB 5917 | Outcome: TBD

This bill will ensure that Washington state distributes its $2 million abortion medication stockpile before it expires. It directs the Department of Corrections, which houses the stockpile, to collaborate with the Department of Health to get the medication to those most in need. 

Medication Abortion on College Campuses 

Bill Number: SB 5826 | Outcome: Stalled

This bill allows students to finally get medication abortion through campus health centers. Every year, around 1,000 students at Washington's public colleges need abortion services. But only two of our 44 state schools are known to be in the process of providing those services.

Driver Privacy Act

Bill Numbers: HB 2332 & SB 6002 | Outcome: TBD

This bill regulates the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to protect personal privacy and promote public safety. ALPRs are widespread in Washington, but there are no laws specifically governing their usage. Unless we implement the baseline regulations in this bill, ALPRs could be used to persecute immigrants, enable stalking, and punish those who seek abortion and gender-affirming care.

Anti-Discrimination Protection for 2SLGBTQ+ Idahoans

Bill Number: SB 1228 | Outcome: Stalled

This bill would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected classes in Idaho’s Human Rights Act. Though 2SLGBTQIA+ Idahoans are protected from discrimination in certain jurisdictions, they still lack statewide protections. That means they may be fired from their job, lose their housing, or be denied service because of who they are. This bill has been introduced 11 times but has not yet advanced past a committee hearing.

Ban on Anti-Discrimination Protections for 2SLGBTQ+ Idahoans

Bill Number: HB 557 | Outcome: TBD

This bill would block cities and counties from having their own anti-discrimination laws. It targets the two counties and 12 cities that have passed anti-discrimination protections for 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Ban on Gender & Sexuality Education

Bill Number: HB 516 | Outcome: Stalled

This bill would have banned all instruction on gender and sexuality from kindergarten through 12th grade. Current law allows instruction that is age appropriate.

Ban on Pride Flags

Bill Number: HB 561 | Outcome: TBD

This bill is a second attempt to ban 2SLGBTQIA+ pride flags. In 2024, state lawmakers passed a bill that bans government buildings from flying unofficial flags. But the city of Boise promptly made the pride flag an official flag, and it’s flown the flag ever since. This new bill would close the loophole used by Boise, extend the ban to cover all government land and roads, and impose a fine of $2,000 per flag per day.

Forced “Outing” of Transgender Youth

Bill Number: HB 822 | Outcome: TBD

This bill would require adults to “out” transgender youth to their parents. Not only would it force adults to report youth for expressing interest in transitioning, but it would also force them to report youth for any behavior that falls outside rigid gender roles. The mandate would apply to health care providers and educational institutions. Those who fail to report could be sued by an aggrieved parent or investigated by the attorney general and fined up to $100,000.

Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban 1

Bill Number: HB 607 | Outcome: TBD

This bill would require government buildings and places of public accommodation to take “reasonable steps” to prevent transgender people from using restrooms and changing facilities that align with their gender identity. Those who encounter transgender people in restrooms could sue the government entity or business.

Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban 2

Bill Number: HB 752 | Outcome: TBD

This bill would require government buildings and places of public accommodation to take “reasonable steps” to prevent transgender people from using restrooms and changing facilities that align with their gender identity. Those who encounter transgender people in restrooms could sue the government entity or business.

Overturning Marriage Equality

Bill Number: HJM 17| Outcome: TBD

This memorial is the Legislature’s second attempt to urge the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Such a ruling would destabilize families, create legal chaos, and undermine everyone’s rights to equal protection. Though the memorial would not carry the force of law, it would further normalize discrimination against 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Penalties for Hiring Undocumented Workers

Bill Number: HB 584 | Outcome: TBD

This bill would block all Idaho employers for hiring undocumented workers. Employers would have to use the federal E-Verify system to check employees’ immigration status, and those who don’t comply could lose their business. Such a policy would divide families and cripple Idaho’s economy. One report estimated that losing undocumented workers would cost the state 12.3 billion — an impact similar to the Great Recession.

Deterring Undocumented People from Accessing Medical Care

Bill Number: HB 592 | Outcome: TBD

This bill would require patients to disclose their immigration status when visiting hospitals that accept Medicaid. Virtually every hospital in the U.S. accepts Medicaid. If enacted, this bill would discourage people from getting care when they need it most, ultimately resulting in worse health outcomes and higher expenses for hospitals and the state.