What to Know About APPA’s 2026 Bylaws
On February 2, 2026, the APPA Board of Directors approved a comprehensive update to our bylaws — the most significant governance modernization in our organization’s recent history. I want to walk you through what changed, why it matters, and what it means for you as a member.
Why Now?
Organizations evolve, and governance should evolve with them. Our 2020 bylaws served us well, but as APPA grew and our needs became more complex, the Board saw an opportunity to build a stronger governance foundation — one that clearly separates governance structure from day-to-day operations and gives the organization more flexibility to adapt over time.
The Philosophy Shift
The single most important thing to understand about the 2026 bylaws is the shift in philosophy. Our bylaws have moved from a prescriptive model — where procedures and operations were written directly into the governing document — to a principle-based model, where the bylaws focus on governance framework and the operational details live in policies and charters that the Board can update as needs evolve.
Think of it this way: the bylaws are now the constitution, and the policies are the legislation. The constitution sets the structure and the guardrails. The legislation fills in the details and can adapt over time without requiring a constitutional amendment. The right content is in the right place — and APPA can respond to changing needs more effectively.
What Changed
Membership
The 2026 bylaws streamline membership from nine categories into five, organized into two clear groups: Organizational Members (Institutional Members and Business Partners) and Individual Members (Retired, Emeritus, and Student). The detailed eligibility criteria now live in the Membership Policy, where they can be updated more easily as the profession evolves. Emeritus status is now approved by the APPA Board of Directors, reflecting the significance of this recognition.
A Board Built for Continuity
The Board structure has been redesigned around a clear succession model. The Chair-Elect serves two years, then becomes Chair for two years — giving the organization four years of consistent leadership. The same model applies to the Treasurer-Elect and Treasurer, ensuring four years of financial continuity.
All director terms are now aligned at three years, non-renewable: six Regional Directors, one Business Partner Director, and up to two At-Large Directors. The CEO and COO serve ex-officio in a non-voting capacity.
Business Partners at the Governance Table
One of the most meaningful changes is the creation of a dedicated Business Partner Director position on the Board. This is a voting member of the Board, elected by Business Partner members, with the same fiduciary duties and Conflict of Interest requirements as every other director.
The Business Partner Director also chairs the new Business Partner Advisory Committee, creating a formal channel for industry partner input into APPA’s direction. This recognizes the essential role Business Partners play in our mission and gives them a meaningful seat at the table — not as observers, but as participants in governance.
Your Vote, Your Voice
Under the 2026 bylaws, every voting position on the Board traces back to the membership. Institutional Members from all regions vote for the Chair-Elect and Treasurer-Elect. Institutional Members within each region now vote directly for their Regional Director — a significant change that strengthens the connection between the Board and regional membership. Business Partner members vote for the Business Partner Director.
Even the At-Large Directors, who are appointed by the Board, are selected by a Board that was itself elected by members. The governance structure is membership-driven at every level.
Committees
The 2026 bylaws introduce a three-tier committee structure that distinguishes between Board committees (composed of Board members only, handling governance work), member engagement committees (which can include non-Board members and focus on programs and initiatives), and ad hoc committees (formed as needed for specific tasks).
The Nominating Committee, for example, moved from a standing committee to an ad hoc committee — reflecting its cyclical nature. Every committee now operates under a charter that is reviewed annually and approved by the Board.
Regions and Chapters
APPA’s six regions and their chapters remain formally recognized in the bylaws. A new Affiliation Agreement now clarifies the mutual relationship — what APPA provides to regions and chapters, and what is expected in return. This includes concrete commitments from APPA such as technology support, event management services, and access to APPA programs. And because the agreement lives outside the bylaws, it can evolve as needs change without a formal amendment process.
The Foundation Remains
Through all of these changes, what makes APPA what it is carries forward. Our mission and purpose are unchanged. Members retain voting control over Association governance. Fiduciary duties of the Board are preserved and strengthened. Our commitment to regions, chapters, and professional development remains central to everything we do. Indemnification protections and tax-exempt provisions are fully intact. We modernized how we organize ourselves — to deliver on that foundation more effectively.
What’s Next
The new bylaws are adopted, but the governance framework continues to develop. Alongside the bylaws, the Board has already approved five foundational documents: the Regions and Chapters Affiliation Agreement, Conflict of Interest Policy, Investment Policy, Membership Policy, and Nominating Committee Charter. Additional policies — covering areas like financial management, awards, brand usage, professional conduct, and document retention — are scheduled for adoption through the remainder of 2026, along with charters for key committees including Finance, Awards & Recognition, Business Partner Advisory, and Professional Development Advisory.
You can find all approved documents and the full policy roadmap at appa.org/bylaws.
This election cycle, the Nominating Committee will operate under the new charter for the first time, filling two positions: Treasurer-Elect and Business Partner Director. Nominations are open now, and I encourage any qualified member to consider putting their name forward — or nominating a colleague you believe would serve APPA well.
Join Us on March 10 for our Member Webinar
We’re hosting a member webinar on March 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET to walk through these changes in detail and answer your questions. Whether you’re an institutional member, a business partner, or an individual member, this session is for you.
We are proud of where we are today — and we're confident that this framework positions APPA to serve our members and our profession for years to come.
I look forward to seeing you on March 10.
Lalit Agarwal is the Chief Executive Officer of APPA. Questions about the bylaws update can be directed to membership@appa.org.