March 6, 2023
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State Advocacy Days
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In early 2023, ASLA is encouraging all chapters to plan and host a State Advocacy Day. To support this effort, ASLA has held training webinars for chapter leaders and created a new webpage full of resources for Chapter leaders and volunteers to use before, during, and after advocacy meetings with state legislators. As of mid-January, approximately 15 States have indicated they plan to or have an interest in holding a State Advocacy Day in 2023. Thank you to those Chapters who have already completed or confirmed their State Advocacy Days: New Mexico, Kentucky, Texas, St. Louis, Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Florida, and Iowa |
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State Climate Policy
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State Government Affairs is tracking 60 bills related to climate change. Each bill has the potential to create new opportunities for landscape architects to lead on state-level mitigation and adaptation efforts. Each bill also represents an opportunity for landscape architects to advocate for the profession with state policymakers. |
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Licensure Defense in NH, SC and VA
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State Government Affairs has continued to work with the New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Virginia Chapters to advocate against bills to deregulate landscape architecture. Due to these swift advocacy efforts the Virginia bill has died in committee and the South Carolina bill is highly likely to die in committee. However, the New Hampshire bill still active and the Chapter and ASLA National are actively engaging in advocacy efforts to oppose the bill, including placing this Op-Ed by New Hampshire Chapter President, Jen Martel ASLA, in response to Governor Sununu’s comment in his 2023 Budget Address that [landscape architects] don’t need a license to “plant rose bushes.” |
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Update on Licensing Board in Utah
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State Government Affairs mobilized the iAdvocate Network in response to a Utah bill to eliminate the landscape architecture board after a short-notice hearing was announced. The team worked with the Utah Chapter leadership to develop arguments in defense of retaining the state’s licensing board and to consider possible alternative solutions. In response to the Chapter’s advocacy efforts, the bill was amended to allow additional time to study the validity of having a landscape architecture licensing board. |
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Board Representation in North Dakota
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ASLA has been working with the Nebraska-Dakotas Chapter in support of North Dakota House Bill 1465. The bill proposes to add landscape architect seats to the state’s Architecture and Landscape Architecture Board. The State Government Affairs team is working with the Chapter on the bill language and specific board composition. |
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New Law: African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act
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Bolstered by ASLA’s advocacy efforts, the African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Act has been signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The campaign engaged 323 advocates through ASLA’s iAdvocate Network. This measure, introduced by Representative Alma Adams (NC) and Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), creates new opportunities for landscape architects to restore heritage, advance equity, and facilitate social wellness in communities across the nation. |
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ASLA Supports Bicycling Bill in Congress
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Once again, ALSA is supporting Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s (OR) Bicycle Commuter Act in the 118th Congress. This legislation would reinstate and expand the bicycle commuter tax benefit to incentivize biking to work. ASLA supports this measure because it incentivizes individuals to decrease their carbon footprint and it can help promote bicycle and other active transportation infrastructure projects, which landscape architects plan, design, and implement across the nation. |
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TAKE ACTION!
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Become an iAdvocte Champion
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At the 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture, the Government Affairs team recognized advocates who had taken action on ASLA campaigns since January 2021. Qualifying members received an “iAdvocate Champion” ribbon for their name badge. Recognition of members’ advocacy engagements will be an on-going initiative. To participate and earn future distinctions, advocates are encouraged to take action on the numerous policy issues affecting the profession. |
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ASLA Founders Club
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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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