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

  • Time: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
  • Topic: Wildfire risk scores as used by the insurance industry
    • Steve Brooks, Executive Director, Washington Association of Fire Chiefs
    • Karen Collins, Vice President, Property & Environment, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
    • Firas Saleh, Director of Product Management, Moody’s RMS
    • JulieAnna Anastassatos, Vice President, Wildfire, Verisk
    • Bryan Rehor, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Zesty.ai
  • Please register in advance
  • Stream the July 15 meeting on TVW

July 22, 2025 meeting

  • Time: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
  • Topic: Data sharing with state agencies and wildfire risk assessment
    • Joanne Pearson, State Geographic Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
    • Matthew Dehr, Lead Wildfire Meteorologist, Department of Natural Resources
    • Shelby Flanagan and Michelle Fredrickson, Spatial Epidemiologists, Department of Health
    • Frank Frievalt, Director, Wildland-Urban Interface FIRE Institute, California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo
  • Please register in advance
  • Stream the July 22 meeting on TVW

July 29, 2025 meeting

  • Time: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
  • Topic: Developing a wildfire mitigation grant program for residential properties
    • Steve Crowder, Mayor, Town of Paradise, California
    • Kimiko Barrett, Sr. Wildfire Research & Policy, Headwaters Economics
    • Chief Frank Bigelow, Deputy Director, Community Wildfire & Preparedness & Mitigation, CAL FIRE
    • Brian Powell, Catastrophe Risk Resilience Specialist, Center for Insurance Policy and Research
  • Please register in advance
  • Stream the July 29 meeting on TVW

October 2025 meeting to be determined. 

Materials

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

Wildfire mitigation

Wildland Urban Interface Code

Questionnaires and surveys

Questionnaire one - initial work group survey

Questionnaire two - July 1 meeting follow up survey

Questionnaire three - July 8 meeting

Comments

Members and participants

Work group members

Name Title Organization
Patty Kuderer Commissioner Office of the Insurance Commissioner
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
Michael Newman General Counsel Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Steve Brooks Executive Director Washington Association of Fire Chiefs
Brian Allen Chief Risk Officer Grange Insurance Association, Insurance Industry
Kenton Brine President Northwest Insurance Council, Insurance Industry
Shannon Marbet Director AAA Washington, Insurance Industry
Coron Polley Agency Partner The VIP Agency Chelan, LLC, Insurance Industry
Chandra Fox Deputy Director Spokane County Emergency Management
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
JulieAnna Anastassatos Vice President of Wildfire Verisk Underwriting Solutions
Angela Bishop Owner Bishop Design PLLC, Washington Rural Landowner
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
Tony Craven Member Washington Farm Forestry Association, Small Forest Landowner
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
Ron Gibbs Insurance and Risk Management Manager Chelan County Public Utility District, Public Owned Utility
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
Mary Hull-Drury Government Affairs Director Washington REALTORS®, Real Estate Industry
Elizabeth King Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Director Department of Commerce
Hilary Lundgren Program Officer Resources Legacy Fund, Non-Governmental Organization
Vern Malensky Director of Electrical Engineering Avista Corporation, Investor-Owned Utility Representative
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
Brian Quill Emergency Management Coordinator Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
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
Melanie Thurlow Senior Public Affairs Officer Liberty Mutual Insurance