Message from kim Olson, LAC Chair

By Kim Olson, AIA
Chair, AIA Oregon Legislative Affairs Committee

Although the Oregon Legislature will not reconvene for its next long session until 2027, the work of the AIA Oregon Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC) continues at a steady pace. Our committee remains focused on the issues that matter most to architects, our clients, and the communities we serve. This interim period offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships, share expertise, and help shape policy conversations before legislation is introduced.

Resilience remains one of our central areas of focus. We have maintained ongoing communication with the Governor’s Office on housing and on our Resilient Schools Initiative. Architects bring a critical and unique perspective to Oregon’s housing challenges and to the broader goal of creating safer, healthier, and more durable communities. Resilience is not only about preparing for or responding to disasters, it is about designing buildings and systems that support people and communities over the long term.

We are also continuing our conversations with industry partners regarding the future of interior design regulation in Oregon. Over the past several months, AIA Oregon has met with representatives from IIDA as part of what we anticipate will be a collaborative, constructive, and ongoing dialogue. While legislative language has not yet been introduced for AIA Oregon’s review, we understand that representatives from IIDA are currently engaging firms and stakeholders statewide to gather input on potential interior design registration legislation. At this stage, our focus is to listen, learn, and ensure that architects remain informed and involved in the discussion. If your firm has participated in a presentation, attended a meeting, or received information related to these conversations, we welcome your insights. Your feedback will help the Legislative Affairs Committee understand the range of opportunities, questions, and considerations emerging from these discussions.

We also encourage members interested in these topics, or in broader legislative and regulatory issues affecting the profession to join us at an upcoming LAC meeting.  The strength of our advocacy efforts depends on the expertise and participation of our members.  Your insights help ensure that AIA Oregon remains a trusted voice for architects and the communities we serve.

To share your thoughts or learn more about joining the conversation, please reach out to AIA Oregon staff.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Connect with the Legislative Affairs Committee

Have feedback, questions, or insights to share? Interested in joining an upcoming LAC meeting?

Reach out to the AIA Oregon team to learn more about upcoming meetings and opportunities to get involved.