Republicans walk out after ‘cold-hearted’ bill closing down developmentally disabled schools passes

House Republicans walked out of the Appropriations Committee after it passed Senate Bill 5393, which would close both the Rainier and Yakima Valley schools for developmentally disabled students.

“Republicans fought hard to not let it pass, but heartless House Democrats passed it anyway,” Anthony Mixer, the Chair of expansion and government affairs for the Washington State Young Republicans.

JUST NOW:

House Appropriations Republicans have WALKED OUT of further proceedings of the Appropriations Committee after it passed SB 5393 (closing the Rainier School).

Republicans fought hard to not let it pass, but heartless House Democrats passed it anyway.#waleg pic.twitter.com/h91uIYmJu9

— Anthony Mixer (@AnthonyMixerWA) April 23, 2025

The Republican representatives left with five bills remaining to discuss. They were subsequently marked absent for them. A video of the committee meeting can be seen here.

“We didn’t come into this meeting planning to walk out, but there comes a moment when you must draw the line,” Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, the ranking Republican on the committee, said. “This bill is one of the most disgusting, cold-hearted proposals I’ve seen in my time in office. It puts lives on the line, plain and simple.”

The legislation intends to relocate the students to community alternatives, but, according to the House Republicans at the committee meeting, the facilities do not have the capacity and often do not provide the level of care needed.

“There are countless ways to find savings in the budget. This is not it,” Couture said. “Washington doesn’t balance its books on the backs of its most vulnerable. Not on our watch. If this bill hits the floor, we’ll fight it with everything we’ve got.”

Previous attempts to stop legislation that would shut down Rainier and Yakima Valley schools

Couture previously pleaded with the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month to bring down the bill, claiming it would harm “vulnerable people.”

“My heart sits in my stomach right now because I know what the outcome of this is going to be,” Couture said, fighting back tears. “I’ve lived personally and professionally in this space, legislatively as well. People will die as a result of this bill. It’s not just a fact, it’s also a prediction.”

Couture claimed that Georgia shut down its facilities for developmentally disabled people, and hundreds of people died afterwards.

“Not people like you and me, Mr. Chair, people who can’t speak for themselves,” Couture said. “I will do anything to stop this bill. I will work with every single member of this committee.”

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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