Licensure Defense in Louisiana

In recent weeks, ASLA has worked with the Louisiana Chapter (LCASLA) to defeat two concerning pieces of state legislation on the issue of licensure.

On April 22, the Louisiana House was poised to consider HB 959. This bill aimed to deregulate various professions, including landscape architecture. In response, ASLA National and LCASLA worked together to:

• Craft a comment letter
• Initiate an iAdvocate campaign
• Start conversations with state legislators

Ultimately, the bill underwent significant revision, and all deregulation provisions were removed.

The State Government Affairs team also collaborated with LCASLA to address another concerning legislative proposal, SB 456. This bill proposed a sunset review process that would automatically terminate all boards and commissions by July 1, 2029, unless the entity was reviewed and approved by a new Review Commission.

Responding swiftly, a comment letter of opposition was crafted and promptly dispatched to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs, and the Chapter was prepared to testify in opposition. However, given the amount of opposition to the bill, the sponsor withdrew the bill.

All Chapters are encouraged to remain vigilant and proactively educate state legislators on the health, safety, and welfare impacts of landscape architecture. ASLA provides resources for hosting State Advocacy Days and Site Tours. The State Government Affairs team is available to discuss any member concerns related to legislation or policy.

ASLA 2023 Professional General Design Honor Award. Gene Leahy Mall. Omaha, Nebraska. OJB Landscape Architecture / Jeff Durkin

Advocacy Day 2024: Shaping Spaces, Changing Lives: 125 Years of Landscape Architecture

ASLA hosted its federal Advocacy Day on May 8, 2024, when 81 ASLA members attended 138 virtual meetings with members of Congress, Senators, and congressional staff to discuss policies important to the profession. As ASLA celebrates its 125th anniversary, this year’s Advocacy Day theme was Shaping Spaces, Changing Lives: 125 Years of Landscape Architecture.

Landscape architects educated policymakers about the landscape architecture profession and encouraged support for two pieces of legislation – the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act (H.R. 1477, S. 722) and the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency (WISE) Act (H.R. 2921).

Both bills impact the work of landscape architects, helping to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare, and increasing the use of nature-based solutions for water management projects. Specifically, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act would allow 529 savings plans to help reduce costs related to being a licensed landscape architect, including for the LARE, renewal fees, continuing education, and more. The WISE Act would increase the use of nature-based solutions to help communities address their water management needs.

ASLA also activated the iAdvocate Network to urge other grassroots advocates to help their colleagues on the Hill by contacting their legislators about the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act and the WISE Act. More than 1,100 messages were sent to Capitol Hill urging support for these two measures.

ASLA encourages advocates to continue to send letters to their federal legislators urging support for these bills.