Tim Eyman: Parents no longer No. 1 as House Bill 1296 reverses hard-won rights

As engrossed substitute House Bill 1296 attempts to modify 15 parental rights within Initiative 2081, the Parents’ Bill of Rights in Washington, political activist Tim Eyman was among many voicing their displeasure over how the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee fielded the public’s response.

The result? Eyman and others were removed from the public hearing by security.

“The room there was packed full of people that were against the bill, yet all the Chair did was continually call on people remotely that were in favor of the bill,” Eyman said on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. “It was completely stacked. You have all these people that drove in on a weekday from out of town, and yet they were prohibited from speaking, and it was just really outrageous. This farce went on for like an hour.”

Eyman says 80.5% signed initiative against House Bill 1296

According to Eyman, more than 5,500 regular citizens signed an initiative against House Bill 1296—80.5%—while just 1,300 favored the changes.

“We have 5,500 people that are opposed to this bill, and you’re not listening to them, and then they cut off the mic and called over security,” Eyman said. “I mean, they made my point. It was just a perfect example of the way they’re acting down there. They have the votes to do whatever they want, but that’s not good enough.”

The biggest concern for Eyman and other people voting against the changes that House Bill 1296 presents is how the prioritization pivots from parents back to the government.

“They had almost a unanimous Legislature agree, we’re going to change the policy of the law that says the parents are No. 1, the government is No. 2,” Eyman said. “This bill that they’re pushing puts government right back at No. 1, and parents probably even lower than No. 2 in the category.”

What’s next for HB 1296?

HB 1296 is now moving forward in the legislative process and faces further discussion in the Senate. Advocates from both sides continue to debate the balance between safeguarding student privacy and ensuring robust parental involvement.

Eyman is convinced House Bill 1296 will pass in the House and the Senate with ease, meaning it will come down to a decision by Governor Bob Ferguson.

“It’s a small price to pay to have security walk over and ask me to get out of the room,” Eyman told “The Jason Rantz Show.” “It’s a small price to pay to be castigated by the Chair. If they’re taking away our rights, if they’re taxing us to death, I don’t see the problem in us being more vocal about it and not being so concerned about being polite about it.”

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