ASLA Secures State Advocacy Victories for Licensure in Hawaiʻi and Alaska

ASLA secures landmark licensure modernization in Hawaiʻi and reauthorizes Alaska's professional design board to ensure economic continuity and resilient development.

ASLA Government Affairs, in close coordination with the Hawaiʻi and Alaska Chapters, has achieved significant milestones in strengthening and preserving the professional regulatory framework for landscape architects. Through persistent advocacy and direct engagement with state leadership, these efforts ensure that landscape architects remain at the forefront of designing resilient communities and supporting local economies.

In Hawaiʻi, Governor Josh Green officially signed SB 2607 into law on May 29, marking an achievement of modernizing state licensing statutes that aligns with the CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture. To support the final stages of the bill's journey, the ASLA National Government Affairs team submitted formal letters of support to the Governor's office, highlighting how modernized standards helps to strengthened a regulatory system that protects the public while supporting greater mobility and opportunity for qualified professionals..

While, in Alaska, the State Legislature successfully overrode Governor Mike Dunleavy's veto of HB 314. This critical legislation reauthorizes the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS), ensuring the continued oversight of landscape architecture and other design disciplines. The bill's advancement reflects the collaborative efforts of the Alaska Chapter, allied design professions, and ASLA National.

In support of the bill, the Alaska Chapter and National ASLA focused messaging on the role of landscape architects as small business owners and key members of development teams who deliver cost-effective, northern-centric design solutions.

The successful passage of these measures in Hawaiʻi and Alaska underscores the impact of coordinated advocacy between local chapters and the national office. By reinforcing the profession's regulatory structure, these victories ensure that landscape architects are equipped to continue their essential work in designing safe, resilient, and prosperous communities.