2025 State Policy Year in Review

The 2025 state legislative season was a busy and successful year for landscape architecture. ASLA and its chapters worked hard to protect professional licenses and pass new laws that help the profession grow. With all 50 states holding regular legislative sessions, ASLA tracked over 80 bills that could affect how landscape architects’ work.

Major Wins for Licensure and Practice

Several states passed important laws that strengthen the profession and make it easier for landscape architects to practice:

• Nebraska: The state achieved a major milestone by adopting CLARB’s Uniform Standard for landscape architecture licensure through LB 696, signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen. The Uniform Standard promotes consistent requirements for education, experience, and examination—reducing barriers to licensure and supporting professional mobility across state lines.
• New Mexico: Governor Lujan Grisham signed SB 113, which extends the life of the Landscape Architects Board and the Landscape Architects Act for another decade.
• New York: The state modernized its rules for continuing education (CE). New rules now allow online courses and let landscape architects carry over extra CE hours to the next year.

Defending the Profession from Deregulation

ASLA and its chapters also had to fight against proposals that would have weakened or removed professional licensing. These "defensive" wins are critical for protecting public health, safety, and welfare:

• Florida: In a very active session, the Florida Chapter helped defeat several bills that would have merged or eliminated the Board of Landscape Architecture and removed continuing education requirements.
• Alabama and Nevada: Proposals to move or merge licensing boards under larger, less specialized agencies were defeated, preserving the independence of landscape architecture boards.
• Michigan: Legislation was introduced that would deregulate the practice of landscape architecture, following a state report that questioned the need for continued licensure. ASLA’s Government Affairs team worked closely with the Michigan Chapter and its lobbyist to defend licensure and protect public health, safety, and welfare. The bill remains active for the 2026 legislative session.
• North Carolina: The Chapter successfully opposed legislation that would have rolled back continuing education requirements for licensed landscape architects, helping preserve professional standards and consumer protections.

Small Business and Tax Victories

Advocacy efforts also focused on the business side of the profession. In Maryland, ASLA helped oppose new taxes on professional services. In New Mexico, the team helped pass a bill that raises the limit for certain state contracts, allowing landscape architects to compete for larger projects more easily.

2026 State Policy Preview: Looking Ahead

As we begin 2026, ASLA will continue to build on the momentum from last year. The focus will remain on protecting the profession’s right to practice and ensuring that landscape architects are recognized as essential design professionals.

Key Priorities for 2026:

• Expanding the Uniform Standard: ASLA will continue working with CLARB Chapters to adopt the Uniform Standard. This remains a top priority to create consistent licensure requirements and support professional access and mobility for members.
• Monitoring Licensure Reform: ASLA will stay vigilant in monitoring both new legislation and gubernatorial executive orders that call for the review of professional boards. These efforts are essential to ensure that landscape architecture licenses are not unfairly targeted for deregulation or restructuring.
• Strengthening Chapter Advocacy: ASLA will also continue to support Chapters with their State Advocacy Days and Site Tours for elected officials. These proactive advocacy activities develop relationships with legislators and are a great way to show legislators firsthand how landscape architecture projects improve communities.

By staying active and engaged, ASLA members can ensure that 2026 is another year of growth and protection for the profession.