Advocacy Update – February 2026
This Month in Advocacy: AIA Amplifies Architect Voices at National, State, and Local Levels. Your membership is in action for more housing, support for built environment professionals, and to protect climate.
National
AIA submits comments on Federal Acquisition Regulation overhaul
On January 15, AIA submitted formal comments as part of the Administration’s Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) overhaul. The comments address proposed updates affecting federal architect-engineer (A/E) services, including concerns about misapplication of the 6% fee limitation and potential changes to Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS). The submission followed a meeting with White House officials leading the effort to make federal procurement more business-friendly, particularly for small businesses.
Comment on DOE’s rule limiting federal loans for architecture students
AIA National is collaborating with a broad coalition of education, labor, and health organizations to elevate the real-world impacts of this rule and submit formal comments. The public comment period ends March 2 – submit your comment here.
State of Washington
AIAWA Capitol Connections
Dozens of AIA members spent the day in Olympia on January 21st at Capitol Connections, advocating on behalf of the profession. AIAWA Council reported a record number of attendees and districts represented. AIA members met with elected representatives and their staff to advocate for positive climate outcomes, resilience and safety in our communities, and for projects and the practice of architecture. Stay tuned for weekly updates from AIAWA Council for the latest information from Olympia and opportunities to get involved.
Take Action to Support Production of Condominiums
In December, the AIA Seattle Housing Advocacy Committee engaged with partner organization Housing Development Consortium to provide feedback on HB 2304, a bill which would increase the supply of condominiums by reducing outsized liability to design and build this housing type. HB 2304 passed unanimously out of the House and is moving on to the Senate, where it is expected to first go the Senate Housing Committee (date TBD).
You can help this bill advance and bring more stacked flat condos to production by contacting your State Senator.
Protecting the Climate Commitment Act – NO on 2117 Update
In 2024, Washington voters rejected I-2117, which kept in place the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA). AIA Seattle’s Committee on the Environment brought forward a request for AIA Seattle to support the NO on 2117 campaign, and AIA Seattle’s Board of Directors recognized the NO campaign was aligned with AIA Seattle’s Climate Imperative. Just this month, AIA Seattle advocated with dozens of other NO on 2117 Organizations to the Democratic Caucus in Olympia to preserve the CCA revenue for intended use to protect clean air, jobs, and more affordable and cleaner ways to get around. Read this letter signed by AIA Seattle and see the Seattle Times article below on this topic.
AIA Seattle 10-County Area
Redmond
AIA Seattle’s Housing Advocacy Committee has been engaging in conversations about Inclusive and Incentivized Zoning around our ten-county area. Members drive our advocacy efforts under AIA Seattle’s Housing Policy Statement.
Do you have experience working on residential and mixed-use projects subject to Redmond’s Municipal Codes? We would be excited to receive information from you! Reach out to Melissa K Neher.
Bellevue
The City of Bellevue is requesting feedback on the vision for BelRed, with an update to the Land Use Code. Learn more about the Februrary 23 open house and help shape BelRed’s future.
One Seattle Comprehensive Plan Approved + Next Steps
Seattle City Council voted on December 16, 2025 to approve the updated One Seattle Comprehensive Plan and permanent HB 1110 legislation to address missing middle housing. Thank you to our members who have been engaged in this process for multiple years to advocate for a livable city with a variety of housing near many types of amenities and transit. Get involved with the AIA Seattle Comp Plan Work Group, meeting virtually each month in 2026. Email Melissa K Neher for a calendar invitation.
Resources of Interest
Articles
Lawmakers must preserve climate funding for its intended purpose | The Seattle Times
The Seattle Example for Unlocking More Housing, One Stairway at a Time | Next City
Becoming a ’15-Minute City’ Could Be Within Reach for Tacoma | The Urbanist
The Row House is Back to Solve the Housing Crisis | Fast Company
Learning
AIAWA council partnered with Carbon Leadership Forum to provide an update on the proposed code appendix that will be out for public comment later this spring, including real-world case studies showing how firms are tackling this in practice. If you missed it, here are the recordings and slides.
