Washington state presents three initiatives to voters covering parental school involvement, transgender athletics, and millionaire income tax
Washington voters will face three ballot initiatives on November 3, 2026, all introduced through the state's direct democracy process. The measures address parental notification rights in schools regarding sexual health education, restrictions on transgender student athletes, and the repeal of a proposed income tax on high earners. Washington joins several other states considering similar policies on school sports eligibility and income taxation.
Washington's three initiatives reflect ongoing national debates about education policy, civil rights, and taxation. Initiative 1 seeks to restore parental notification and opt-out provisions for sexual health instruction that the state legislature had narrowed in 2025, potentially giving families greater involvement in their children's classroom curriculum decisions. Meanwhile, Initiative 638 represents a significant legal development—it is the first statewide ballot measure in U.S. history specifically requiring biological sex verification for school athletic participation, though similar measures are advancing in Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska during the same election cycle.
The income tax measure, Initiative 645, would block implementation of a newly enacted 9.9% tax on annual household income exceeding $1 million set to begin in 2028. All three initiatives are backed by Let's Go Washington, which raised $7.7 million as of late August 2026 and has become a significant force in the state's direct democracy process.
These measures could substantially reshape public education administration, LGBTQ student inclusion, and tax policy in Washington. Parents and educators may experience shifts in their roles regarding school health curricula and student privacy practices. Transgender student athletes could face eligibility restrictions, potentially affecting participation opportunities. High-income residents and state revenue planning could be impacted by the tax repeal, which may influence funding for schools, healthcare, and social services depending on the state budget's reliance on this revenue source.