AIA California’s 2025 advocacy efforts delivered major progress for the profession—strengthening the licensure pipeline, protecting project delivery, advancing housing and climate priorities, and supporting firms through key practice initiatives. These accomplishments reflect the coordinated leadership of AIA California members, committees, and statewide partners, who are committed to improving the built environment.

The year’s signature victory was the passage of AB 759 (Valencia), establishing the new “Architect-in-Training (AIT)” title for individuals formally pursuing licensure. Beginning January 1, 2027, candidates identified by the California Architects Board who have passed at least one ARE division and work under a licensed architect may apply for the designation. Usable for four years—with a possible four-year extension—AIT aligns architecture with engineering and land surveying, strengthens public understanding of the licensure pathway, and supports retention and diversity. This achievement follows nearly a decade of advocacy by AIA California and the Academy for Emerging Professionals.

AIA California also secured a significant project-delivery win through amendments to AB 339 (Ortega). As introduced, the bill would have imposed 60-day notice and negotiation requirements on most local contracting decisions, delaying planning and design work. After sustained coalition advocacy, architects, engineers, and related design services were fully exempted, protecting timely project delivery and the Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process.

Additional legislative priorities advanced, including AB 507 (adaptive reuse), AB 39 (local electrification planning), SB 79 (transit-oriented development), and AB 253 (private plan review). AIA California also helped advance key disaster-recovery measures and continued work on AB 1265 (Historic Tax Credit) and AB 368 (Passive House Standards), the latter now signed into law.

AIA California played a major role in statewide policy development through the AB 529 Adaptive Reuse Working Group, submitting more than three dozen technical proposals—over half statewide—and extensive comments on HCD’s draft report.

Climate leadership remained central, with AIA California advancing embodied-carbon code implementation, engaging in CALGreen modernization, contributing to the CALGreen Carbon Reduction Collaborative, and helping shape updates to the California Existing Building Code.

AIA California also elevated professional protections through its Duty to Defend initiative. In response to continued misuse of defense-obligation clauses, AIA CA developed a letter firms may submit to clients—or request AIA California submit on their behalf—along with talking points and a webinar now available on the website.

These achievements underscore AIA California’s leadership in advancing a resilient, sustainable, and equitable future for architects and the communities they serve.