LOBBY FUND LETTER

As a member of the Landscape Architecture community, you may be aware of the recent efforts across the country to deregulate the professions. In Ohio, we have been facing attempts to consolidate our licensure board, enact a sales tax on our design services and face a round of Sunset Review. The following update contains the issues that may affect you and the actions taken by our Ohio Legislative Affairs team to address these issues.

Landscape Architects are one of only four licensed design professions (Architects, Landscape Architects, Engineers, Surveyors) in the State of Ohio. Licensure is not a given, and it has been achieved and protected due to the tireless efforts of ASLA Ohio and our valued members who participate in the advocacy process. Our profession is currently under threat from multiple directions, as the State’s legislature is taking decisive actions to undermine professional licensure, and more broadly making threats against any government oversight that they deem unnecessary such as the very existence of the Ohio Landscape Architect’s Board. Other design professions, often with more substantial lobbying funds and extensive efforts than our own, also look to use their power to increase their scope of work and infringe upon our legally defined practice outlined in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC 4703.30 to 4703.49). Ohio ASLA successfully defended our board from elimination and consolidation in 2015, successfully fought off a sales tax on landscape design services in 2017, and we have been carefully monitoring the licensure board Sunset Review process in preparation for future State Government hearings.

With a heightened sense of awareness by the Ohio ASLA, and increased funding and advocacy efforts since late 2014, below represents a brief summary of the efforts we have undertaken:

• Lobbyist: Ohio ASLA Legislative Affairs team has been pro-active in our efforts, with the ongoing consultation of Luther Liggett III, esq. as our registered lobbyist to provide monthly legislative updates and to coordinate the introduction of pro-landscape architecture bills.

• Statehouse Day: We have held five consecutive Statehouse Days, allowing members to participate in the advocacy process and become more involved in their own State Government.

• Federal Bills become Law: We successfully lobbied Ohio Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, and Ohio Representatives Bob Latta and Bob Gibbs on the passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act which became law in 2019 with President Trump’s signature.

• Joint Licensure Summit: The chapter hosted the first ever joint ASLA / CLARB Licensure Summit in 2018 to address deregulation across the country, highlighted by a green infrastructure tour of the Scioto Greenways in downtown Columbus, for all attendees, including Columbus City Councilwoman Jaiza Page, James Carmean ­-- legislative aide to Councilwoman Elizabeth Brown, and Zak Davidson -- legislative aide to Council President Shannon Hardin.

• ODOT Manuals: We have successfully lobbied ODOT to include Landscape Architecture and ASLA in the definitions and abbreviations section of their CMS Manual increasing awareness of the scope of work on public projects in Ohio, and other states that utilize our standards.

• State Legislature: We have worked with other allied professions to introduce two bills beneficial to the private practice of landscape architecture: HB 159 (Payment Indemnification) and SB 136 (Payment Assurance).

• Ohio Landscape Architects Board: Our Executive Committee has also been influential in creating and maintaining a great relationship with the Ohio Landscape Architects Board. We attend each of their quarterly meetings, have worked together with them to update their website to prominently display and define Landscape Architecture, and have used our strong relationships within the General Assembly and the Governor’s office to assist in the swift re-appointments of long-time board members Patrick Beam and Tim Schmalenberger.

But there is more to do! We are continuing our outreach with ODOT and other State agencies to encourage their hiring of landscape architects, recognition of our scope of work and ability to lead high profile design projects. We are constantly tracking bills in the General Assembly which threaten our licensure or would decrease our ability to be competitive on the open market with other design professionals. We are continuing to work with legislators to introduce bills that create a positive business climate for design professionals. And we continue to monitor and track the Sunset Review process and will be ready to act when called upon.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• Funding: The chapter’s legislative committee is asking for your financial support. Please consider making a donation to our Lobby Fund to allow us to continue to make Ohio a great place to practice Landscape Architecture and do business. (SUPPORT HERE)

• Participate: Reach out to your legislators both federally and locally at their offices, as it is a critical time to help educate members of government on the role of the profession in our society.

• Stay Informed: Sign up for Ohio ASLA’s newsletter to stay informed on advocacy efforts and chapter events including the next Statehouse Day: https://ohioasla.org/news.php

• Take Action: When action is required, we will let you know. This may include writing letters, making phone calls, and even testifying before State government committees. Also look out and sign-up for the next Statehouse Day or Legislative Affairs update session.

It is critical to the ongoing health of the profession that we remain vigilant, and assist the dedicated team at Ohio ASLA as we face new challenges and ongoing efforts to eliminate regulation and licensure of the professions.

We appreciate your thoughts, attention, and actions you have taken in these efforts. As always, feel free to contact me should you have any questions or would like to join the team!

Sincerely,

Doug Boyer, ASLA

VP of Legislative Affairs

Ohio Chapter ASLA