Washington Lawmakers Hear 16 Testimonies for Commission Supporting Boys and Men

16 testifiers for HB 2401 Jan 23, 2026

Directors of nonprofit organizations, representatives of labor unions, medical doctors, a school district superintendent, and several grassroots advocates testified on January 23 at a historic public hearing for legislation to create a Washington boys and men commission.​ View the full 37-minute public hearing​.

A Male Democratic Legislator Who Spoke up for Inclusion for Men — Twenty Years Ago

Health Disparities bill quote

Jim Kastama is a father of five and the current mayor of Puyallup. When he served in the state legislature between 1996 and 2012, Kastama advocated for policies that would make shared parenting arrangements more common. That way, more kids whose parents split up, like his own kids, would benefit from plentiful time with both mom and dad. Kastama also spoke up at times for fair treatment for men and boys.