Read the full stored bill text
SB2607
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2607
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to landscape architects
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that Hawaii's board of
professional engineers, architects, surveyors, and landscape architects (board)
previously voted in favor of adopting a uniform standard for landscape
architecture licensure developed in 2022 by the Council of Landscape
Architectural Registration Boards, of which the board is a member.
�
The Council of Landscape Architectural
Registration Boards is a nonprofit organization that works to protect the
public's health, safety, and welfare by establishing and promoting professional
licensure standards for landscape architects.
�
Its members are the licensure boards across the United States and
Canada.
����
The
legislature further finds that the board is the entity best suited to determine
the eligibility requirements for the licensure of landscape architects in the
State and should be authorized to implement standards as it deems appropriate.
����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to authorize the board of professional engineers,
architects, surveyors, and landscape architects to
determine
the appropriate educational, examination, and experience requirements for
landscape architect licensure in the State.
����
SECTION 2.
�
Section 464-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new
definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
����
"
"Board" means the board
of professional engineers, architects, surveyors, and landscape architects
established in section 464-6.
"
����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 464-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
����
"(d)
�
No person shall be eligible for licensure as a professional landscape
architect unless:
����
(1)
�
The
person [
is the holder of an unexpired license issued to the person by any
jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, in which the requirements for licensure at
the time the person was first licensed are of a standard satisfactory to the
board; provided that if the board is in doubt as to whether the standards are
satisfactory, or as to whether the holder was required to fully comply with
them, it shall require that the holder successfully pass the national landscape
architect licensing examination and a written examination, prescribed by the
board designed to test the holder's knowledge of the State's climatic
conditions, native plants and native ecosystems, land use ordinance and special
management area requirements, and cultural and historical conditions affecting
landscape architecture;
]
satisfies the board's requirements for
licensure by endorsement, including:
���������
(A)
�
Completing all education and experience requirements; and
���������
(B)
�
Passing a state examination, as prescribed by the board, testing
the person's knowledge of the State's:
��������������
(i)
�
Climatic conditions;
�������������
(ii)
�
Native plants and ecosystems;
������������
(iii)
�
Land use ordinances and special management area requirements;
and
�������������
(iv)
�
Historical conditions affecting landscape architecture; or
����
(2)
�
The
person is the holder of a [
master's
] degree in landscape architecture
from [
an institution of higher education approved by the board; is a
graduate of
] a school or college approved by the board [
as of
satisfactory standing and has completed a landscape architectural curriculum of
four years or more; has had two years of full-time lawful experience in
landscape architecture work of a character satisfactory to the board, or
part-time experience which the board finds to be the equivalent thereof; and
has successfully passed the national landscape architect licensing examination
and a written examination, prescribed by the board designed to test the
person's knowledge of the State's climatic conditions, native plants and native
ecosystems, land use ordinance and special management area requirements, and
cultural and historical conditions affecting landscape architecture;
]
and
satisfies the board's requirements for licensure, including:
���������
(A)
�
Completing all education and experience requirements; and
���������
(B)
�
Passing a state examination, as prescribed by the board, testing
the person's knowledge of the State's:
��������������
(i)
�
Climatic conditions;
�������������
(ii)
�
Native plants and ecosystems;
������������
(iii)
�
Land use ordinances and special management area requirements;
and
�������������
(iv)
�
Historical conditions affecting landscape architecture.
���
[
(3)
�
The
person is a graduate of a school or college approved by the board as of
satisfactory standing, and has completed a landscape architectural curriculum
of four years or more; has had three years of full-time lawful experience in
landscape architecture work of a character satisfactory to the board, or
part-time experience which the board finds to be the equivalent thereof; and
has successfully passed the national landscape architect licensing examination
and a written examination, prescribed by the board designed to test the
person's knowledge of the State's climatic conditions, native plants and native
ecosystems, land use ordinance and special management area requirements, and
cultural and historical conditions affecting landscape architecture;
����
(4)
�
The
person is a graduate of a school or college approved by the board as of
satisfactory standing, and has completed a pre-landscape architecture or arts
and science curriculum of four years or more; has had five years of full-time
lawful experience in landscape architecture work of a character satisfactory to
the board, or part-time experience which the board finds to be the equivalent
thereof; and has successfully passed the national landscape architect licensing
examination and a written examination, prescribed by the board designed to test
the person's knowledge of the State's climatic conditions, native plants and
native ecosystems, land use ordinance and special management area requirements,
and cultural and historical conditions affecting landscape architecture; or
����
(5)
�
The
person has had twelve years of full-time lawful experience in landscape
architecture work of a character satisfactory to the board, or part-time
experience which the board finds to be the equivalent thereof; and has
successfully passed the national landscape architect licensing examination and
a written examination, prescribed by the board designed to test the person's
knowledge of the State's climatic conditions, native plants and native
ecosystems, land use ordinance and special management area requirements, and
cultural and historical conditions affecting landscape architecture.
����
(6)
]
The applicant shall also certify on the
application that the applicant has read, understood, and agrees to comply with
the laws and rules that the board determines are required for licensure.
����
In addition to the foregoing requirements,
the board, in its discretion, may also require additional proof that the
applicant is competent to practice professionally, and whenever the board is
not fully satisfied [
from
]
with
the results of an examination
that any applicant is competent to practice professionally, it may give the
applicant a further examination or examinations.
����
No person shall be eligible for licensure
as a professional engineer, architect, land surveyor, or landscape architect if
the person does not possess a history of honesty, truthfulness, financial
integrity, and fair dealing."
����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
����
SECTION 5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.
����
SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Board of
Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects; Landscape
Architecture Licensing Requirements
Description:
Authorizes
the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape
Architects to determine the appropriate educational, examination, and
experience requirements for landscape architect licensure.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.