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ResourcesArchitecture & Advocacy
As the only organization that represents the interests of architects at state-level policymaking, TSA is the voice of the architectural profession in Texas.
TSA - with the strength of 6,900 members - can have significant influence at the State Capitol when lawmakers are considering bills that will govern the way architecture is practiced in Texas. Regulatory issues that affect the architectural profession are broad and far-reaching, including issues ranging from licensure and liability to public safety and taxation.
To accomplish its advocacy goals, TSA maintains two registered lobbyists on staff - TSA General Counsel Yvonne Castillo and TSA Executive Vice President David Lancaster, Hon. AIA. In addition, Ted Kozlowski serves as TSA's Government Affairs Coordinator. Because TSA recognizes that its members face daily challenges relating to legislative and regulatory issues, the TSA Advocacy Department is charged with addressing those concerns in the following ways:
- monitoring and reviewing legislators, regulators, and judges;
- reviewing and tracking bills;
- attending meetings of the Texas Legislature and relative regulatory agencies;
- reviewing the Texas Register
- monitoring opinions of the State Attorney General;
- monitoring court actions;
- drafting position papers;
- drafting bills, rules, opinion request responses, appellate briefs, and amendments to bills/rules;
- testifying before legislative, regulatory, and judicial bodies regarding TSA's positions;
- coordinating TSA member testimony before legislative and regulatory bodies;
- coordinating advocacy efforts with allied professional groups;
- creating issue-specific materials to guide TSA members;
- serving as a legal resource for TSA members on legal, legislative, and regulatory matters; and
- overseeing the Texas Architects Committee (TAC)
Why should architects care about legislation?
While TSA maintains a regular presence at the State Capitol and at TBAE meetings, the Society's members must recognize that individual architects also play an important role in protecting the profession from bad legislation. Elected officials may listen to lobbyists, but they vote on issues that align with the interests of their constituents back home. It is important to remember that the driving force behind any politician is the voice of his or her district's constituency because those constituents will vote according to how well they believe their interests are represented.
What's the connection between advocacy and architecture?
The main connection is that government creates the parameters in which architects practice. So if the Texas Legislature receives no message from the architectural profession, laws will be created that may likely hinder the profession and the profession will fail to prosper.
With that said, TSA's leadership understands that architects are the only design professionals who are educated, trained, and tested in integrating all essential systems that go into creating the built environment for human use and occupancy. Unfortunately, however, our elected officials don't always think along these same lines. Legislators don't necessarily need to understand the importance of architectural training-that's why it's TSA's job to know what bills are being considered and how they are likely to affect the architectural profession. (Think about it: None of the 150 state representatives or 31 state senators are architects. They need architects to educate them about the impact bills have on the architectural profession.)
How can architects become advocates?
There are at least 4 ways to become an advocate for the architectural profession:
1) By getting involved with a TSA committee:
2) By staying informed of laws that impact your practice. If laws are hindering your practice, let TSA know. There are several ways to stay informed, including:
- Sign up with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners to receive e-mail notification of TBAE actions. Go to www.tbae.state.tx.us/listserve/ to sign up.
- Sign up with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to receive e-mail notification of TDLR actions. Go to www.tdlr.state.tx.us/newsletters/TDLRnotificationLists.asp to sign up.
- For school facilities standards and guidelines at the Texas Education Agency, go to www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/facilities/stg.html to download relevant documents.
- For current standards and guidelines in health care design, go to www.sos.state.tx.us/tac and select "Texas Administrative Code" at the far left. Then select "TAC Viewer" at far right to access relevant materials.
3) Get to know your legislators.
If you don't know who those people are, go to www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx for names and contact information. Also, attend town hall meetings and/or political fundraisers or volunteer on a campaign.
