HB 1472 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Closing the Yakima Valley school and Rainier school.

HB 1472 requires the closure of Yakima Valley School and Rainier School (residential habilitation centers for people with developmental disabilities) by June 30, 2027. It prohibits new admissions (except for short-term crisis/respite care) and mandates that current residents be relocated to community-based settings, state-operated living alternatives, or other residential centers. The bill also requires the department to provide transition support for residents and staff, including job opportunities in new community programs. These facilities must later operate only as crisis stabilization centers with limited capacity. The law affects current residents, staff, and the state's long-term care system for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the official title and legislative history to reflect that it was introduced by the House Early Learning & Human Services committee rather than directly by a representative. It also adds a new requirement for the Yakima Valley school to operate crisis stabilization and respite beds after its permanent closure, ensuring continued emergency care capacity in the region.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific operational mandates for the Yakima Valley school facility following its closure, shifting from a simple closure mandate to a managed transition plan.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill header from 'HOUSE BILL' to 'SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL' and updated the sponsor attribution to reflect committee referral.

TIMELINE

Updated the first reading date from January 21, 2025, to April 2, 2025.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate that the Yakima Valley school must operate crisis stabilization beds and limited respite service beds after closing, based on local needs and emergency requirements.

Removed the Rainier School from the list of permanently established residential habilitation centers, confirming its closure.

Substitute Bill → Second Substitute Bill · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill revision updates the bill number and committee assignment while significantly strengthening the requirements for closing the Yakima Valley and Rainier schools. The changes mandate that residents be offered meaningful choices for alternative placements and require the creation of individualized transition plans involving families and support providers. Additionally, the bill expands the list of alternative housing options to include state-operated living alternatives and supported living programs, ensuring a more person-centered approach to the facility closures.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding resident transitions was expanded to include specific mandates for client choice, autonomy, and community integration, moving beyond simple relocation requirements.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill reference numbers and the date it was first read in the legislature.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the relocation requirements from subsections (2) and (3) to subsections (2) through (4) to accommodate new content.

Added a new subsection requiring the department to offer every resident a meaningful choice of alternative placements.

Added a mandate to prioritize client choice, autonomy, medical needs, and community integration during transitions.

Required the development of individualized transition plans in collaboration with residents, families, and support providers.

Added a requirement to coordinate closely with other state agencies, local entities, and community stakeholders for seamless transitions.

Mandated that the department provide or contract for all necessary transition expenses, including assessments, housing modifications, and staff training.

Added a requirement for robust oversight, accountability measures, and regular monitoring of transition outcomes and resident well-being.

Expanded the department's obligations to include providing state-operated living alternatives and utilizing existing supported living program capacity for residents who prefer those settings.

Removed the specific requirement for the Yakima Valley School to operate crisis stabilization and respite beds after closure, replacing it with a broader mandate for the department to manage these needs across all affected facilities.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors