AIA Austin Advocacy Update – 3/2/26
The monthly Advocacy Update summarizes the advocacy efforts of AIA Austin, led by the Advocacy Commission and its three Tactical Committees.
The Advocacy Commission coordinates systematic efforts to promote our expertise and identify audiences, venues, and mediums to advance the values of our organization. To get involved, please join the committee email list(s) using the links below.
2026 Public Role & Advocacy Commissioner: Jason John Paul Haskins, AIA
ADVOCACY TACTICAL COMMITTEES AT-A-GLANCE
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COMMITTEE INITIATIVES
Housing Advocacy
Focuses on zoning reforms and legislative fixes to improve housing stock and preservation.
Recent Wins
- Green Social Housing: On Feb.5, Austin City Council members voted to adopt a resolution directing the city manager to look into how the city can implement a Green Social Housing policy, which combines permanently affordable housing and public ownership. KVUE spoke to Jason Haskins, AIA, about the policy; watch the interview here.
- AIA Austin Letter of Support Regarding The Houseplex Code Amendment 2/16/26
- Two articles in Texas Architect magazine
Active Priority Issues
- Integrating 4 units into the IRC (International Residential Code)
- Advancing Missing Middle and Mixed Use Zoning
- Downtown Density Bonus
- HOME fix
- City Preservation Bonus
- Review of city staff recommendations?
Tracking Issues
- Next legislative session
- “10-minute walkability” to third places
- 2026 Housing Bond Election
- Austin Housing Department / AHFC Monitoring and Compliance
- STR Regulations
- SMART Housing Updates
- Affordability Unlocked Updates
- Affordability Impact Statements
- Green Social Housing
- Elevator Reform
Resiliency & Climate Response
Addresses environmental impact, resource management, and climate-conscious design standards.
Recent Wins
- Implementing working groups and issue champions to report on progress
- Selected primary theme for 2026 as WATER (water resiliency & integrative water management)
Active Priority Issues
- Water resiliency & integrative water management
- FAR definition (Floor Area Ratio)
- Bird Friendly Design recommendations & COA adoption
- Deconstruction ordinance strategies and policy
Tracking Issues
- AEGB Updates
- Resilience stations / hubs / demos
Mobility Advocacy
Focuses on transportation infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly streets, and major urban corridor planning.
Recent Wins
- Two-way Streets Advocacy Roundtable
- Jeff Speck: Toward a More Walkable Austin talk and book signing
Active Priority Issues
- Two-way street conversions and Austin Core Transportation Plan
- Great Streets Update
- I-35 CapEx Frontage Road Improvements & Street Trees
Tracking Issues
- I-35 Cap & Stitch Implementation
- Density Bonus Updates, including DDBP & ETOD
- Austin 2026 Bond Package
GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to get involved in advocacy with AIA Austin, from listening in on committee meetings or just reporting issues to working on tactical committee issues or giving public testimony. We encourage anyone to explore advocacy, regardless of experience or time available. To get started, consider joining a Tactical Committee, attending an event, or engaging with one of these current opportunities:
- SUBMIT AN ISSUE: AIA Austin Advocacy Intake Form – Please tell us what you are concerned about in local government and the built environment.
- COMPLETE A SURVEY: SMART Housing Applicant Input – Austin Housing is seeking input from SMART Housing applicants to help with upcoming updates to the program.
- SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT: The Public Comment period on the Department of Education’s rule removing the “professional” designation from architecture degrees is now open through 02 March. Add your voice to professionals from more than 70 peer organizations on this proposal to greatly limit access to architectural education and licensure.
- CONTACT CONGRESS: Congress is prepared to respond if the Department of Education does not modify its proposed rule. AIA—together with AIAS, ACSA, NAAB, NCARB, and NOMA—has also endorsed two pieces of proposed legislation to correct the DOE’s overstep of Congress’s clear legislative intent and restore some availability of federal student loans: HR 6677 and HR 6718. If you’ve never done this before, find your representative here and follow the links to whichever form of communication you prefer.
- SHAPE LOCAL FIRE POLICY: The public comment period for proposed changes to Austin’s Fire Protection Criteria Manual is now open through March 27. The proposed changes include removing redundant regulations as well as significant updates intended to align with the new 2024 versions of IFC, IBC, and IWUI codes recently adopted and amended by the city. Your experience with these regulations is a vital perspective to limit negative impacts, unintended consequences, and the real-world implications of these changes.
- TACKLE URGENT ISSUES WITH AIA NATIONAL: Your voice matters! AIA speaks directly with lawmakers, manages coalition partners, makes statements, gives testimony, and organizes official public comments, but we also need the voice of constituents speaking to their lawmakers, explaining why these policies matter at home. That’s where you come in. Visit the AIA Action Center to find ways to push forward the policies important to you.
UPCOMING ADVOCACY EVENTS
MAR 5
Aligned Action for Housing Solutions (Livestream)
Join Terner Labs and the National League of Cities for an annual housing innovation symposium. “For more and more people, the United States’ housing shortage is putting safe, stable housing out of reach. We need policy alignment and capital deployment powerful enough to meet this massive need.”}
11am-2pm online
LEARN MORE AND RSVP>>
MAR 30-31
2026 Texas Community Development Conference
Two AIA Austin members will present sessions at this affordable housing conference hosted by the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations.
- GREEN+: How Foundation Communities Implements Green Certification and Why
Jason Haskins, AIA, Foundation Communities
Katelynn Essig, Foundation Communities - Single-Stair Reform: Expanding Midrise Housing Options in Texas
Chris Gannon, AIA, Shams Gannon Architecture
Felicity Maxwell, Texans for Housing
APR 9
Austin Energy Contractors, Builders, and Developers Open House
Austin Energy values your feedback and is thrilled to invite you to an enhanced, interactive meeting tailored for you. This meeting will unite teams from Austin Energy, Austin Development Services and Austin Technology Services in one convenient location.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER >>
SEPT 14
Save the Date: Candidate Forum
Presented by AIA Advocacy and Austin Housing Coalition. Candidates for the open City Council seats will share their positions on various issues related to housing affordability, planning, and development.
5:00-8:00pm at Assembly Hall
Free