Bill > SB5483

This bill aims to protect historical education by prohibiting school districts from censoring or restricting instruction related to U.S. or Washington state history that contains religious references in original source documents. Specifically, the bill lists 13 key historical documents and texts that cannot be censored, including foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Washington state Constitution, and presidential speeches such as George Washington's farewell address and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address. The legislation ensures that students can learn about these important historical texts in their full context, even if they contain religious language or references. By preventing censorship based on religious content, the bill seeks to preserve the comprehensive teaching of American and Washington state history, allowing students to understand the historical context and original language of significant national and state documents. The bill is officially known as the "American heritage act for Washington state" and would be added as a new section to the state's educational code.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5483&Year=2025&Initiative=false