Government Affairs Committee                               Return to Committees Page

Meeting Date: Every first Tuesday of the month, 4:30 p.m., AIA Minnesota Board Room

Every practicing architect is affected by the bills passed by the legislature. This committee needs architects who want to shape those laws to have a positive effect on the practice of architecture. Legislative activity is vitally important to the health of the profession.

Co-Chairs: Ann Voda, AIA; John Strachota, AIA
AIA MN Staff Liaison: Beverly Hauschild-Baron Hon.AIA hauschild@aia-mn.org

Minnesota State Legislature Find your District representatives


Action Items
  1. AIA Minnesota continues to oppose MIDLAC/IIDA, and ASID’s proposed interior design practice legislation. AIA Minnesota will continue a dialog with these organizations. The position of AIA National is to oppose such legislation.
  2. Support new bonding for capital projects in order to boost the Minnesota economy by investing in state assets and infrastructure, supporting capital preservation, and creating design and construction jobs.
  3. Support transportation initiatives for livable communities, such as a gas tax increase for roads and a sales tax increase for public transportation, i.e. LRT, multi-modal regional transit that includes pedestrian and bicycle trails, buses, and bus ways, commuter rail, and regional high-speed rail.
  4. Support legislation proposed by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota to create tax credits to help preserve Minnesota’s historic architectural resources.
  5. Indemnification – work with ACEC to pass legislation clarifying indemnification language and strengthening enforcement.
  6. Support the Board of Architecture in making changes to allow for changes in the timing of taking the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) prior to completion of the Intern Development Program (IDP).
  7. Oppose legislation that would place a sales tax on Professional Services.
  8. Support legislation to meet the AIA 2030 Challenge, setting goals to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and construction to zero by 2030.


Monitored Items
The Government Affairs committee continues to monitor the following issues:
  • Design/Build for Schools – continue to oppose legislative activities design/build for School Boards.
  • Continue to oppose rule making or any changes in legislation, which would revert back to the 1991 Mechanical Code.
  • Monitor changes to the Building Code
  • Support sustainable design initiatives for state buildings, and assist state agencies in developing appropriate sustainable design guidelines (B-3) enacted in 2001.
  • Monitor application of Best Value legislation
  • Monitor the Minnesota Heritage legislation

AIA 2005-2006 Legislative Tracker is a weekly report distributed by email describing the status of Minnesota State legislation affecting our industry. If you would like to receive the Legislative Tracker please email your request to Beverly Hauschild-Baron at hauschild@aia-mn.org

AIA Minnesota urges members to contact their legislators about these and other issues. If you have questions or are aware of significant legislative initiatives affecting the practice of architecture, please contact Beverly Hauschild-Baron hauschild@aia-mn.org.
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