Leaders Express - January 2026

January 2026

Highlights: 

• Land and Water Conservation Fund: On January 8, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations package by a vote of 397–28, signaling strong cross-party support. The package funds Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Agencies, Energy and Water, and Commerce–Justice programs, with significant investments in conservation, arts and cultural programs, water restoration initiatives, and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Senate is expected to take up the package next week, with congressional leaders aiming to complete all action on remaining FY26 funding bills before the current continuing resolution expires on January 30.
• ASLA has established a new working group under its Climate & Biodiversity Committee to support the Landscape Architecture 2040 Commitment Program by developing the profession’s first Site Lifecycle Assessment (SLCA) methodology guide and industry-wide benchmarking study. This effort will standardize how greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration are measured and reported across landscape architecture projects — empowering firms to set clearer emissions reduction targets and accelerate climate-positive design. The group brings together leading landscape architects, carbon experts, and engineering partners, and builds on tools and frameworks from ASLA’s Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan.
• The Call for Presentations for the ASLA 2026 Conference on Landscape Architecture in Los Angeles opened January 6.Submitters are invited to share their ideas through February 17.

State Government Affairs

• 2026 State Legislative Outlook: Between January 5 and January 20, 35 states will convene legislative sessions. In 2026, ASLA will build on recent momentum by prioritizing adoption of the Uniform Licensure Standard, closely monitoring licensure reform and executive actions affecting professional boards, and supporting Chapter advocacy efforts to protect the profession’s right to practice and strengthen recognition of landscape architects as essential design professionals. Member engagement will be critical to advancing these priorities and ensuring continued success at the state level.
• Florida Deregulation Legislation: ASLA is working closely with the Florida Chapter to respond to HB 607, broad legislation proposing to deregulate multiple licensed professions—including landscape architecture—by restructuring licensing boards and continuing education requirements. The Chapter, supported by ASLA and allied organizations, testified in opposition during a December 11 hearing of the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee. Although the bill advanced out of subcommittee, the team continues to coordinate with the Chapter and its lobbyist on next steps, including targeted outreach to legislators and firm principals.
• Illinois Licensure Sunset Extension: Illinois regulators are finalizing legislation to extend the profession’s licensure sunset date, with bill language expected to be submitted to the Governor’s Office ahead of a mid-January drafting deadline. The extension will move as part of a broader omnibus package led by key Senate and House committee chairs. ASLAsupportedthe Chapter in submitting feedback to ensure landscape architecture priorities are reflected before the bill is formally introduced.

Federal Government Affairs

• Clean Water Act / WOTUS Comments: ASLA joined a broad coalition of more than 60 organizations in submitting public comments opposing proposed changes to the federal definition of Waters of theUnited States (WOTUS). The coalition raised concerns that the proposal would weaken long-standing protections for wetlands and streams and extend beyond what recent Supreme Court decisions require, putting critical water resources at risk.
• Student Loans & Professional Degrees: ASLA has joined in supporting H.R. 6677, the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act. This legislation led by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) would continue current regulations and borrowing amounts for graduate and professional student loans. If passed, this would prevent current Department of Education recommendations to cap student loans for most degrees. ASLA will also provide public comments on this issue when the administration announces a notice of proposed rulemaking. 
• National Capital Planning Commission Briefing: ASLA attended the January 8 National Capital Planning Commission meeting, which included an early, informational presentation on the White House East Wing Modernization Project. Commissioners asked initial questions as part of the preliminary review process. More formal review and a potential public comment period are expected later this year, at which point ASLA can assess opportunities for engagement.

• The ASLA webinar series Making the Economic Case for Landscape Architecture concluded with a third webinar–How Developers Value Landscape Architecture– on January 13 at 2pm EST. The webinar was moderated by ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen and featured experts from HR&A, Gibbs Planning Group, and LandDesign.

• ASLA Climate & Biodiversity content received 122,000 page views in 2025, a 40 percent increase over 2024. Highlights include: 12,500 page view for the new Climate & Biodiversity Action Plan; 7,300 page views for new Committee-led resources, including the Biodiversity Primer, BIM guide, EPD hub, and Climate Justice 101 resource; 5,000 page views for existing research, including on economic benefits; and 3,600 page views for existing Committee-led resources.
• ASLA Climate & Biodiversity content on social media also saw major gains, with 1,2 million impressions, a 22% increase over 2024, and nearly 42,000click-throughs, a 14 percent increase over 2024. Top performing content on social in terms of engagement rate: Climate & Biodiversity Action 101webinarseries; The Dirt; and Climate Justice 101 resource.
• The ASLA Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee basecamp had over 100 messages and 250 comments in 2025.

• An outcome of the work of the Dues Restructuring Task Force, pricing adjustments for ASLA Online Learning went into effect January 1, enhancing the value of membership. ASLA members now have significantly greater access to free and reduced prices across the ASLA Online Learning library. A few changes to note:
  • Conference education session recordings from2024 and earlier are free for all ASLA members.
  • Nearly all other webinars—from Climate & Biodiversity Action Committee-organized presentations to live virtual offerings throughout the year—are free for all ASLA members, both for the live presentation and on-demand recordings.
  • SKILL | ED offerings are free for associate members.
• The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) transitioned to a new platform on January 12. Enhancements education providers will see immediately are: 
  • A more user-friendly interface.
  • Streamlined attendee imports with improved error detection and correction.
  • Ability to send certificates of completion directly to attendees through the LA CES platform.

Continued upgrades are planned throughout the year to support an even more efficient provider experience.

• The Call for Presentations for the ASLA 2026 Conference on Landscape Architecture in Los Angeles opened January 6.Submitters are invited to share their ideas through February 17.
• The ASLA 2026 Conference on Landscape Architecture theme is Action! Design in Motion. Work in Progress. This year’s theme underscores the conference’s commitment to practice, progress, and purpose. Landscape architecture is not a static profession; it is grounded in motion, momentum, and meaningful change.
• Registration will open on Monday, January 12, for the LABASH Student Conference being March 13-16, 2026, at The Ohio State University.

Social Media

• Across all ASLA platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, and Bluesky), total audience reached 324,342as ofJanuary1, reflecting net audience growth of 20,809yearover year. Growth was primarily driven by LinkedIn (+10,526) and Instagram (+10,301), while X experienced a net decline (–2,313). Social content at the start of the year supported promotion of the ASLA Awards submission cycle and the ASLA 2026 Call for Presentations, as well as ongoing programming highlighting the economic benefits of landscape architecture.

Honors and Awards

• The2026 Professional Awards Call for Entries Early Bird Rate closed on January 9.
• The 2026 Professional Awards Webinar “Tips from Jury Members and Past Winners” was held on January 7, with over 100 registered. You may view the webinar here.
• The2026 Student Awards registration and submission dates, along with LAM’s Awards issue, have been rescheduled to later in the year to accommodate the students' semesters:
  • Registration deadline: April 24
  • Submission deadline: May 9
  • Registration fee: $80.

LAM Online Traffic Data: (over the previous month ending December 22)* 

Top 3 posts: 

1. Ping Design Brings Extraordinary Moments to the House Next Doorby Lauren Mandel,ASLA; December3; 2,511 views 

2. How Signage Can Point the Way to Cultural Reclamationby Timothy A. Schuler; December 10; 1,358 views

3. The Best Gifts for Landscape Architects and Garden Designersbystaff; December 8; 1,103views

• Total Views: 25,448 (down 19.6% from previous month)
• Views of main LAM web page: 4,014 (down 36.9% from previous month) 
• Total active users: 15,537 (down 24% from previous month) 
• Totalnew users: 14,858 (down 25% from previous month) 
• Returning users: 1,498 (down 18.1% from previous month) 

Percentage comparisons from this time last year:  

• Total Views: up 29% 
• Views of main LAM web page: up 7.9% 
• Total active users: up 64% 
• Total new users: up 63.6% 
• Returning users: down 3% 

(*Data reporter does not have access to Google Analytics data after the website switch on 12/22.)

The Landscape Report Data (over the previous month ending January 8)*:

• Open Rate: 21.2% (down 2.9 percentage points) 
• Click Rate: 3.2% (down 0.7 percentage points) 

*No newsletter on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

ASLA began preparations to participate in the 2026 Future City Competition Awards Ceremony, continuing its role as the first and only design organization represented in the international STEM competition. ASLA has served as a Special Award Sponsor since 2018 and will again present the Edible City Design Excellence Award on Tuesday, February 17 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. The award recognizes student designs that advance productive, regenerative, and equitable urban food systems. The Future City Competition, a program of DiscoverE, engages up to 60,000 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students annually worldwide in STEM learning by challenging them to imagine how to make the world a better place. The following ASLA members are confirmed as Special Award Judges: Jieya Yu (Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd.), Bel St. John Day, (Bradley Site Design) Dennis Carmichael (Carmichael Associates LLC), and Alison Kennedy (Kelly Design Group, LLC.).

• The AI-powered, self service chapter report request tool was launched. Any current chapter ExCom member can request a chapter roster and other reports by sending an email to Member and Chapter Services. 

• The newly redesigned Chapter Operations Workbook (COW)was launched. The COW is a centralized resource to support chapter leaders with key guidance, tools, and operational information.

• Recently, President-Elect Gretchen Wilson, ASLA, and CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA, participated in the American Society of Association Executives CEO Symposium in Naples, FL. The symposium discussed the models of leadership, decision-making, the unique nature of associations, and the components of governance, among other topics over the course of two days.  

• The2026 Honors Call for Nominations deadline is February 2, 2026.

• The call for nominations to the Council of Fellows deadline is February 2, 2026.
• The Call for Presentations for the ASLA 2026 Conference on Landscape Architecture in Los Angeles is open through February 17.
• The2026 Student Awards registration and submission dates, along with LAM’s Awards issue, have been rescheduled to later in the year to accommodate the students' semesters:
  • Registration deadline: April 24
  • Submission deadline: May 9
  • Registration fee: $80.