Advocacy

Overview

Welcome! AIAWA serves as the voice for Washington architects in state government affairs, working to further architects’ interests in design, service and advocacy. We engage with members to influence state issues that impact the practice of architecture by:

• lobbying and building relationships with the governor’s office, legislators and legislative staff, state agencies, boards and commissions and consumer groups
• tracking legislation impacting architects and the practice of architecture
• building coalitions with allied organizations
• clarifying and informing members about legislative and policy activities
• protecting the legal welfare of architects

To better represent architects and the built environment, AIAWA’s policy work is guided by:

Policy Committees

Policy committees work throughout the year to identify priority issues and formulate AIAWA’s strategy for implementing change. Issue briefs are developed by one or more policy committees and approved by the Board. View AIAWA’s issue briefs here. These committees review legislative bills during the legislative session and recommend AIAWA positions. Any AIAWA member is welcome to join one or more policy committees at any time. In addition, members are invited to submit policy ideas or recommendations to AIAWA’s policy committees for consideration. Read more about our policy committees here.

Government Affairs Committee (GAC)

The GAC is comprised of the AIAWA Board and any Policy Committee chairs who are not members of the AIA|WA Board. The GAC meets by conference call weekly during the legislative session and periodically during other parts of the year. The GAC is responsible for the week-to-week advocacy actions of the Council, basing its actions on the policy positions and issue briefs approved by the Board.

Board of Directors

AIAWA’s Board is comprised of members from all AIA components in Washington and represents a cross-section of firms and interests within the state. The Board has the ultimate authority to approve all policy positions, issue briefs and advocacy actions taken by AIAWA.