The SHB 1539 study and recommendations must include:

  • Coordination and alignment of state and Department of Natural Resources’ wildfire property mitigation standards with nationally recognized, science-based wildfire mitigation standards;
  • Enhancement of wildfire mitigation at the community level;
  • Data sharing between state agencies and the insurance industry to address wildfire mitigation gaps and best practices;
  • Improvements to consumer transparency related to wildfire hazard and risk; and
  • Establishment of a grant program to help residential properties resist wildfire loss.

The recommendations are due to the Legislature by December 1, 2025.

Work group meeting agendas, materials, and recordings

July 1, 2025 meeting

July 8, 2025 meeting

July 15, 2025 meeting

July 22, 2025 meeting

July 29, 2025 meeting

August 5, 2025 meeting

August 19, 2025 meeting

Post-meeting questions

October 20, 2025 meeting

Materials

2025 Community Wildfire Planning Center

2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code

Community wildfire resilience resources

International Association of Fire Chiefs

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) mitigation results

Studies on cost to retrofit homes to be wildfire-resistant

Western Washington wildfire reports

Wildfire mitigation

Wildland Urban Interface Code

Questionnaires and surveys

Questionnaire one - initial work group survey

Questionnaire two - July 1 meeting

Questionnaire three - July 8 meeting

Questionnaire four - July 15 meeting

Questionnaire five - July 22 meeting

Questionnaire six - July 29 meeting

Questionnaire seven - August 5 meeting

Questionnaire eight - August 19 meeting

Recommendation survey

Comments

Members and participants

Work group members

Name Title Organization
Co-Chair Patty Kuderer Commissioner Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Co-Chair Dave Upthegrove Commissioner Department of Natural Resources
Bryon Welch Deputy Commissioner Office of the Insurance Commissioner Designee
Robyn Whitney Strategic Advisor to the State Forester Department of Natural Resources Designee
Brian Allen     Chief Risk Officer Grange Insurance Association, Insurance Industry
Angela Bishop Owner Bishop Design PLLC, Washington Rural Landowner
Kenton Brine     President   Northwest Insurance Council, Insurance Industry
Steve Brooks Executive Director Washington Association of Fire Chiefs
Tony Craven Member Washington Farm Forestry Association, Small Forest Landowner
Chandra Fox  Deputy Director Spokane County Emergency Management
Ron Gibbs Insurance and Risk Management Manager Chelan County Public Utility District, Public Owned Utility
Mary Hull-Drury Government Affairs Director Washington REALTORS®, Real Estate Industry
Vern Malensky Director of Electrical Engineering Avista Corporation, Investor-Owned Utility Representative
Shannon Marbet     Director AAA Washington, Insurance Industry
Michael Newman General Counsel Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Coron Polley Agency Partner The VIP Agency Chelan, LLC, Insurance Industry

Work group ex-officio members

Name Title Organization
Shelly Short Senator Senate Republican member
Andrew Engell Representative House Republican member
Rebecca Saldaña Senator Senate Democratic member
Kristine Reeves Representative House Democratic member

Additional participants to the work group added for their expertise and perspectives

Name Title Organization
JulieAnna Anastassatos Vice President of Wildfire Verisk Underwriting Solutions
Korrie Bourn Agency Principal The VIP Agency Winthrop
Jennifer Coe Forest Health & Community Wildfire Resilience Coordinator Washington State Conservation Commission
Tim Cook State Hazard Mitigation Officer Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division
Lance Dahl Deputy Fire Chief City of Spokane, Washington State Association of Fire Marshals
Michael DeLong Research and Advocacy Associate Consumer Federation of America
Mark Donnell Fire Commissioner Chelan Fire & Rescue, Washington Fire Commissioners Association
Angela Doss Senior Director State Government Relations Nationwide Insurance
Melissa Gannie Assistant State Fire Marshal State Fire Marshal Office
Johnathan Goldsmith   Deputy Building Official   City of Spokane, Washington Association of Building Officials
Steve Hawks Senior Director for Wildfire Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Jon Hedegard Legislative and Regulatory Counsel Allstate Insurance
Elizabeth King Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Director   Department of Commerce
Hilary Lundgren Program Officer Resources Legacy Fund, Non-Governmental Organization
Kurt Morgan AVP & Chief Risk Officer Capital Insurance Group
Tim Onken P&C Analyst State Farm Insurance
Reggie Peone Jr. Emergency Manager Spokane Tribes of Indians
Blake Rowland         Property Product Manager and Wildfire Risk Management Lead Progressive Insurance
Brent Schmitten President Mitchell, Reed, & Schmitten Insurance, Inc
Mark Sektan Vice President American Property Casualty Insurance Association
Andrea Smiley Legislative Director Building Industry Association of Washington
Patrick Tonasket Colville Business Council Committee Chair Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Melanie Thurlow Senior Public Affairs Officer Liberty Mutual Insurance