Sine Die 2026

The 2026 legislative session is officially over. 

We had many bills pass that will help those with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. 

SB 5863 — An Act relating to the Preservation and inspection of state historical records: Protects historic records stored at Lakeland Village, ensuring they are not destroyed before 2030. These records are essential to telling the history of people with developmental disabilities.

SHB 2350— Increasing RHC compliance transparency: Requires notification to residents and guardians when a Residential Habilitation Center (RHC) is out of compliance with federal Medicare/Medicaid requirements.

SHB 1390— Repealing the Community Protection Program: Eliminates an overly restrictive program for people with developmental disabilities who have had legal involvement. The program goes away, but services and supports to the individual do not. (Note: this is distinct from the Community Protect Act, which addresses sex offenders.)

ESHB 1795— Addressing Restraint and isolation of students in public schools: Prohibits particularly egregious restraints and bans construction of new isolation rooms. It’s an important step forward, though more work remains.

SHB 2230— Streamlining monitoring and oversight activities for related to community residential service providers: This smart bill brought by Community Residential Services Alliance (CRSA), reduces duplicated inspections and audits, saving provider and state staff time and ultimately money.

SSB 5969- Fulfilling high school and beyond plan requirements with individualized education program transition plans.

SSB 6268— Maintaining an online record of special education complaint decisions. Provides access to previous complaints to families, individuals, districts, and others.

SHB 2323— Establishing a blue envelope program. Provides for neurodivergent drivers to carry a blue envelope in the car that explains their disability if they are pulled over.

 

We had some budget wins as well!

No changes to Long Term Care eligibility or the DD waiver (avoided potential loss of services for ~2,500 people).
No provider rate cuts — protecting provider networks and workforce.
No cuts to Birth-to-Three/ESIT funding — avoided a proposed rollback that would have cut about $30 million.
No elimination of adult Medicaid therapies (OT, PT, SLP). Making sure people continue to have access to these vital services.
No cuts to school-based Medicaid match funding — the House’s proposed 25% state match cut did not make the final budget. 

For a full list of bills and budget wins, please check out the Arc of WA website www.arcwa.org