Leaders say budget would close some state residential habilitation centers, promise community capacity and rate increases

Reporters asked leaders about a proposal that would close Yakima Valley and Rainier School, two residential habilitation centers (RHCs) serving people with developmental disabilities. House and Senate speakers said the budget proposes closing those RHCs but preserving respite and crisis beds in Yakima Valley and that capacity exists at other RHCs and in community settings.

A House speaker said the state has capacity at Fircrest, Shoreline and Lakeland Village to accommodate residents who choose to move, and added the budget anticipates increased demand for supported‑living services. "We do not take lightly the disruption that causes, both to residents of those RHCs as well as to the workforce there," one speaker said, acknowledging the impact on families and employees.

Officials said the budget includes a rate increase for supported living services and that they expect jobs to be available in community‑based settings for staff who would no longer work at Rainier or Yakima Valley. They framed the closures as part of a longer shift away from large institutional settings toward community care, while recognizing that some residents will still need RHC‑level care.

Leaders did not set a timeline for closures beyond characterizing the proposals as part of the budget; they also said they would provide more precise information about specific hospital wards and civil beds at Western State Hospital on request.