Just when it seemed like momentum had stalled on legislation focused on advancing the life-saving retrofits for unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, #FixtheBricks found new footing—this time in the state operating budget.
The Fix the Bricks campaign is a public safety and policy advocacy effort focused on making URM buildings safer before the next earthquake. A major focus of the campaign, over the last year, has been advancing HB 1810 that would make seismic retrofits more affordable for URM building owners by developing financial incentives, as well as completing the statewide inventory of URM buildings.
After House Bill 1810 failed to advance out of committee this session, many advocates and partners were understandably disappointed. The bill represented a meaningful step toward addressing the seismic vulnerability of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings across Washington. But even in the face of that setback, leadership and persistence made a difference.
Thanks to the dedicated advocacy of Representative Brandy Donaghy (District 44), the final state operating budget includes $300,000 in critical funding to move this work forward:
- $150,000 to the Washington State Department of Commerce to recommend financial incentives to reduce the burden of seismic retrofits for URM building owners.
- $150,000 to the Washington State Emergency Management Division to update and complete a statewide inventory of URM buildings, an essential step in understanding risk and prioritizing action.
This funding arrives at a meaningful moment: 25 years after the Nisqually earthquake, a reminder of both our region’s vulnerability and the urgent need to strengthen our built environment. While progress has often been incremental, this investment signals renewed commitment at the state level to tackle a long-recognized challenge.
Equally important is how this win came together. More than 30 organizations across Washington—spanning local governments, emergency management, labor, business, preservation, and technical experts—joined forces to advocate for solutions. This broad coalition included:
- WA Association of Cities
- WA Association of Counties
- WA Association of County Officials (WACO)
- Washington Association of Education Service Districts
- BOMA- Building Owners and Managers Association- Greater Seattle
- NAIOP- Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- City of Seattle
- City of Olympia
- Downtown Everett Association
- Downtown Tacoma Partnership
- Ellensburg Downtown Association
- Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue
- Spokane Preservation Associates
- Masons of Washington
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)- WA Council
- WA Trust for Historic Preservation
- PNW Chapter Association for Preservation and Technology
- Historic Seattle
- Historic South Downtown
- Masonry Institute of Washington
- 4Culture
- Structural Engineers Association of Washington (SEAW)
- Structural Engineers Foundation of Washington (SEFW)
- WA Association of Building Officials (WABO)
- WA Chapter International Code Council (ICC)
- Washington State Emergency Management Association (WSEMA)
- Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)
- Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN)
- Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 WA/AK
- WA State Labor Council
- WA State Building and Construction Council
This level of collaboration reflects a shared understanding: improving seismic safety is not just a technical challenge, it’s a community priority that requires coordinated, sustained effort.
While this funding is not the comprehensive solution envisioned in HB 1810, it is a meaningful and strategic step forward. It lays the groundwork for data-driven policy, more effective financial tools, and ultimately, safer communities.
At SDCI, we’re celebrating this progress—and the partnerships that made it possible. Together, we’re building momentum, strengthening relationships, and continuing the work to #FixtheBricks—one step, and one budget win, at a time.