Advocacy with AIA: Local, State, and National Resources

Architecture is a highly legislated profession. AIA advocates for you and the profession at all levels—national, state, and local.

AIA Cincinnati Local Advocacy Working Group

AIA Cincinnati’s Local Advocacy Working Group has been meeting with local elected officials and reaching out to candidates at the municipal and county level on issues impacting architects. They also reach out quarterly to the nearly 200 municipalities in the nine counties served by AIA Cincinnati.

Catch up on the quarterly outreach and supporting materials:

In 2023, AIA Cincinnati’s Local Advocacy Working group is collaborating with AIA National to improve advocacy efforts at the local level. In the first quarter of 2023, we hosted a series of 30-minute webinars with National on Who Has Time for Advocacy, Who to Contact and How, and How to Build Relationships with Community Leaders.

The Cincinnati Preservation Association prepared one-pagers on historic preservation and sustainability, economic development, healthy communities, and policy improvements to encourage preservation.

Get Involved

AIA Cincinnati’s local advocacy working group meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom. You can register for an upcoming meeting and check for additional programs on the AIA Cincinnati calendar. 

AIA Ohio

Every year (usually in early March) AIA Ohio holds Statehouse Day when architects from around the state converge in Columbus to meet with state legislators on issues impacting the profession.

Current legislative efforts at the Ohio Statehouse impacting architects include:

  • Support sensible building codes and requesting that the Ohio Building Code and Ohio Fire Code be exempt from the requirements of recently approved SB9. SB9 requires administrative rules in each state agency be reduced by 30% and is impacting the adoption of the new International Building Code and how the Ohio-specific language is applied.

  • Support sustainability and resiliency by adopting updates to the building codes that incorporate improved energy efficiency requirements and by incentivizing building owners to reuse and upgrade existing buildings to reduce carbon footprints

  • Support expanding affordable housing opportunities through increased funding and incentives to renovate and construct more housing

  • Support SB225 to expand the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program to ensure that Ohio’s historically significant buildings, sites and structures are preserved for future generations

You can read AIA Ohio’s Public Policies and Position Statements and latest legislative news.

AIA Ohio uses the Ohio Architects’ PAC in a strategic way to support those statewide elected office holders who are identified as able to further advance our legislative priorities. Donations are bi-partisan and determined in consultation with AIA Ohio’s lobbyist. Targeted legislators include State of Ohio House and Senate leadership (both majority and minority), as well as members of committees that are hearing legislation that AIA Ohio wants to impact.

The AIA Ohio Architects’ PAC is one tool that is used to advocate on your behalf for legislation that will improve the practice of architecture in Ohio. Last year less than 7% of AIA Ohio members contributed to the PAC (and only 4% of AIA Cincinnati members). Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference, and more importantly, ensure architects have a stronger voice in Columbus. Donate online and get answers to your questions about the PAC.

AIA Ohio’s lobbyist is Luther L. Liggett, Attorney at Law. Luther hosts a monthly Construction Conversation via Zoom (typically around the 15th). Contact him to get the report and Zoom link.

Get Involved

Join the AIA Ohio Government Advocacy Committee (GAC), which meets weekly on Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. and is responsible for:

  1. Planning the AIA Ohio Day at the statehouse including legislative visits and educational components in collaboration with the Executive Vice President;

  2. Setting priorities for legislative activities with the AIA Ohio lobbyist;

  3. Supporting AIA Ohio’s lobbying efforts with written and verbal testimony; position papers, etc.

  4. Outreach to legislators, allied organizations, regulatory agencies, etc. on behalf of AIA Ohio;

  5. Coordinating with the AIA Ohio PAC Committee to distribute PAC checks;

  6. Reviewing and making recommendations to the board on Public Policy and Position Statements;

  7. Forming task forces or advisory groups to consult with the Government Advocacy Committee on advocacy-related issues

  8. Additional activities as assigned by the AIA Ohio Board.

If you’d like more information, contact the GAC Chair Karen Planet, AIA, or AIA Ohio Executive Director Kate Brunswick.

AIA National

At the federal level, AIA National puts forward policy platforms and actively lobbies for specific legislation impacting the profession. 

They host an annual lobby day on Capitol Hill each February attended by AIA members from across the country. Kermit Baker, AIA's chief economist, provides economic update webinars through AIAU.

You can get an overview of AIA National’s advocacy efforts and their work on federal legislation.

National also hosts an Architects in Action Network (formerly SLGN) member group (formerly known as Architects in Action) with resources, an annual conference, and a discussion board. To join SLGN, contact Michael Winn.

Take Action

AIA Specs on the Union provides updates on public policy issues impacting architects through AIAU webinars.

You can also access the Blueprint for Better with resources about fighting climate change and inequities in the built environment and sign up for their email list.