What Happened at RAD
Recovery Advocacy Day 2026 brought people from across Washington to Olympia for a day of connection, community, and action. Participants gathered to share lived and professional experiences, meet with lawmakers and stand together for recovery-supportive policies across our state.
From first-time attendees to longtime community leaders, RAD created space for people to be heard and to help shape the conversation around behavioral health, recovery supports, and housing.
RAD 2026 Legislative Priorities Updates
This session was a reminder that community voice matters. When people show up and speak from experience, it makes a difference.
Priority 1
Generate Dedicated Revenue to Sustain Community-Based Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports
As Washington faces a major budget deficit, this priority focused on creating a dedicated funding stream to help sustain and expand community-based behavioral health and recovery supports. HB 2072 would have established an opioid impact fee on manufacturers selling opioids in Washington, with medications for opioid use disorder exempted. Revenue from that fee would have been dedicated to protecting and stabilizing essential services people rely on when they are ready for support, including the Recovery Navigator Program, peer support, transportation, and recovery housing.
Update
HB 2072 did not receive a hearing in its committee of origin this session. With a large number of bills moving through a short session, it was not able to advance this year. The policy could be reintroduced next legislative session under a new bill number.
Priority 2
Protect Frontline, Low-Barrier Crisis Response and Recovery Navigation Services
This priority focused on protecting person-centered, low-barrier programs that help people navigate complex systems and get connected to long-term recovery supports, stable housing, and other essential services.Community-based programs like Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) and the Recovery Navigator Program (RNP) create timely, relationship-based entry points to care. These services help people access support before crises deepen and have shown success in reducing harm, improving outcomes, and lowering costs across the healthcare and criminal justice systems.
Update
Community advocacy appears to have helped limit cuts to the Recovery Navigator Program to 10%, or about $1.9 million per year.It is also important to note that last year’s 20% reduction was not felt evenly across the state. Because RNP funding was originally structured using a rural equity model, rural communities experienced a greater impact from those cuts.LEAD update:LEAD saw a 20% funding reduction this year. Unlike RNP, LEAD did not face a cut last year.
Priority 3
Preserve and Expand Inclusive, Recovery-Supportive Housing Options
This priority focused on protecting Level 2 (Type M | Monitored) and Level 3 (Type S | Supervised) recovery housing, including models that are culturally responsive and support family reunification, couples, transgender people, and people with serious mental illness or reentry histories. Recovery housing is a critical part of the continuum of care. It helps people maintain stability, stay connected to community, and continue building recovery while also addressing employment, health, and long-term wellbeing. It also plays an important role in reducing homelessness and re-incarceration.
Update
Recovery housing funding remains intact, with no cuts in the final outcome.While no cuts were initially proposed in the Governor’s budget, recovery housing remained at risk as House and Senate leaders worked through a difficult budget year. Strong community advocacy helped keep this funding protected and on the list of priorities that mattered.
By the Numbers
Registered Attendees
First Time Attendees
Legislative Districts of Represented out of 49
Felt prepared to meet with lawmakers
Personally in recovery (sub. use + MH)
Rated experience Excellent or Great
Showing up for Recovery on the Capitol Steps
Photos from Recovery Advocacy Day 2026 in Olympia, WA
