The Military Department (Department), under the direction of the state's Adjutant General, is responsible for administering a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency management program for the state.  Each political subdivision of the state must establish or jointly create a local organization for carrying out emergency management functions in accordance with the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. 

The State Building Code Council (Council) is a state agency responsible for the adoption of the State Building Code (Code).  The Code establishes minimum performance standards and requirements for construction and construction materials in the state consistent with accepted standards of engineering, fire, and life safety.

The concept of functional recovery generally relates to the ability of buildings and infrastructure systems to quickly return to function or service directly following an earthquake.

The Department must conduct a study regarding statewide building code and construction standards pertaining to earthquake and tsunami resilience as well as recommendations for functional recovery of buildings and critical infrastructure directly following an earthquake.

The study must include an assessment of the following:

• functional recovery building code standards that are being developed at the federal level, in other jurisdictions, or by organizations with expertise in earthquake performance standards;
• the levels of functional recovery supported by state and local building and construction codes;
• the objectives, feasibility, necessary measures, and estimated costs of adopting various models of statewide functional recovery building code standards;
• how statewide standards for functional recovery would fit into an "all hazards" approach for state emergency response;
• funding opportunities that provide for the coordination of state and federal funds; and
• equity considerations for the development of statewide building code standards for functional recovery.

In conducting the study, the Department must request input from the Council and representatives of appropriate public and private sector entities. 

The Department must submit a preliminary report on the outcomes of the completed study to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2025, and a final report must be submitted by May 1, 2026.