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.