• • Landscape Architects Win Big in Climate Legislation

• • Tracking Licensure in All 50 States
• • Landscape Architecture STEM Update
• • Supporting Scenic Byways
• • National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act

• • Take Action for Urban Heat Mitigation
• • Support the Preservation of African-American Burial Grounds

• • Defending Licensure in Montana
• • Policy Priorities with ASLA Florida

• • Commenting on Rule Proposal in Colorado
• • Pursuing a Practice Act in Canada

• • State Board Vacancies

• • Register for the ASLA Annual Conference in November
• • ASLA Founders Club

This August, President Biden signed landmark climate legislation into law - the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation makes an historic investment of $369 billion to improve energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help communities adapt to climate impacts. Importantly, the measure recognizes and funds landscape architecture approaches to address climate change - from active transportation projects like Complete Streets and recreational trails, to nature-based water infrastructure, community tree planting, ecosystem restoration, and more. Learn about more opportunities for landscape architects in the new law. 

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As of Wednesday, August 18, twelve (12) states remain in legislative session. The team continues to track nearly 200 occupational licensing bills, including bills that threaten to weaken or undermine licensure, reduce barriers to licensure, and/or have a direct impact on the profession.

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Recently, ASLA completed its updated version of the white paper,Landscape Architecture is a STEM Discipline, which includes a comprehensive section on Landscape Architecture Education's Use of STEM-Related Research, Innovation, and Technology. This section (Section 4; pages 20-41) includes many examples of university landscape architecture program-led research projects, including projects that partner with federal, state, and local government agencies. In fact, some of these projects partner with the US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA, USDOT, HHS, and more. 

The section also highlights the development and deployment of new technologies by university landscape architecture departments, faculty, and students, including several projects that led to the issuance of U.S. patents. The section continues with a brief history of landscape architecture's practice and the US patent classification system, a clear indicator of the profession's work in developing new technologies. 

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Recently, Federal Government Affairs Director Roxanne Blackwell, Hon. ASLA met with U.S. DOT Assistant Secretary Polly Trottenberg and staff about the National Scenic Byways program. During the meeting, she and other allied organization representatives discussed the importance of providing adequate financial and data resources for the program's continued success.

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On August 2, 2022, Federal Government Affairs Manager Caleb Raspler attended a Congressional staff briefing at the U.S. Capitol on the bipartisan National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act (NCARS). The legislation, S. 3531 and H.R. 6461, calls for a national resilience strategy to improve our nation's infrastructure and reduce risks against climate change impacts. The briefing was co-hosted by the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, Pew Charitable Trusts, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ASLA signed onto a letter that urged support of the bill and suggested improvements.

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ASLA is working with the office of Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ) on passing H.R. 7534, the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2022. This measure would establish a grant program to provide communities with access to solutions that help mitigate some of the impacts of high temperatures, including landscape architecture solutions like green roofs, tree planting, bus and transit shelters, and other cooling techniques. Under the bill, specific consideration would be given for projects in underserved communities.

Contact your representatives today!

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This year, Representative Alma Adams (NC) and Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) announced the introduction of the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act (H.R. 6805, S.3667). This act would authorize the National Parks Service to coordinate initiatives designed to identify, preserve, and record African American burial grounds that have been left unmarked, previously abandoned, or underserved. Its passage would give landscape architects an opportunity to rejuvenate these irreplaceable sites in a manner that advances equity, raises cultural awareness, and closes gaps in research and development initiatives. 

Contact your representatives today!

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The State Government Affairs team continues to work closely with the Idaho-Montana Chapter (IMASLA) to respond to Governor Greg Gianforte's efforts to cut regulatory red tape.  In June, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) released a survey asking licensees questions about the future of landscape architecture licensure in the state. The ASLA State Government Affairs team worked with the Chapter on a response letter to the survey and continues to work with the Chapter to address future state legislative events that address licensure reform.

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Elizabeth Hebron, Director of State Government Affairs, addressed the ASLA Florida Chapter on Friday, August 12. The presentation covered ASLA's Policy Priorities process as well as efforts to enact state resolutions on Landscape Architecture Month in April and proclamations declaring April 26 to be Frederick Law Olmsted Day. Also discussed were legislative tracking resources, licensure updates from Illinois and Louisiana, and an overview of ASLA's relationship with the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing.

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In July, State Government Affairs submitted written comments and provided oral testimony on Colorado proposed Rule 1.7. ASLA supports improving the mobility of the profession and shared our concerns that the proposed rule would create a barrier to obtaining endorsement/reciprocity in Colorado for emerging professionals. We also recommended removing all references to federal licensure to avoid confusion and asked that the board consider aligning their education and experience requirements with the Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture.

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ASLA provided a comment letter supporting the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architecture's request to be regulated under the Canadian Professional Governance Act (PGA). Currently, landscape architects in British Columbia are regulated under a title act. Moving regulation to under the PGA means that the profession would then be regulated under a practice act. 

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Delaware

• Public Member (1) - Information to serve on the board is provided by the Division of Professional Regulation.

Florida

• Professional Member (5) & Public Member (2) - Information on the board is available here and the application process is available here.

Indiana

• Public Member (1) - Please contact Board staff for information on the vacancy.

Iowa

• Professional Member (1) & Public Member (1) - Interested in applying to become a part of the board? Submit an application here.

Maryland

• Public Member (1) - If you're interested, please visit the Governor's Appointments website and complete an online application.

New Hampshire

• Public Member (1) - If you are interested in becoming an OPLC Board Member, please contact Customer Support at customersupport@oplc.nh.gov.

Pennsylvania

• Professional Member (1) & Public Member (1) - Please contact Board staff for information on filling the vacancies.

Rhode Island

• Public Member (1) - Please submit your "Letter of Interest" and "Resume" to Donna.Costantino@dbr.ri.gov.

Utah

• Professional Member (1) - Contact Board Secretary Nicole Herrera at nherrera@utah.gov.

Wisconsin

• Professional Member (1) & Public Member (1) - If you are interested in applying to serve, an application can be submitted to the office of Gov. Evers.

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The ASLA 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture offers over 120 courses, allowing attendees to fulfill their professional development hours (PDH) over four days. Additionally, the ASLA EXPO will provide hands-on access to products from over 300 manufacturers and suppliers. 

Register here: https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowASL221/ 

8 Education Tracks

• Changing the Culture in Practice
• Design and the Creative Process
• Design Implementation
• Leadership, Career Development, and Business
• Olmsted & Beyond: Practice in Progress
• Planning, Urban Design, and Infrastructure
• Resilience and Stewardship
• Technology: Trends and Workflows

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In honor of ASLA's founding in 1899 and Olmsted's birthday, join us in the celebration by continuing the legacy of the Olmsted family and ASLA's commitment to the profession by joining the Founders Club - a new monthly giving program that allows the ASLA Fund to continue our mission of investing in global, social, and environmental change through the art and science of landscape architecture.   

Join the Founders Club today with any of the following gifts: 

• $18.99 per month  
• $200 per quarter  
• $1899 annually 

For more information or questions about the ASLA Fund, contact Judy Mehlman, 202.216.2366

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