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Reasonable Regulation of Interior Design Becomes Law in Nebraska
Published 3.6.24
The state of Nebraska has become the 29th state and 31st jurisdiction in the U.S. to create reasonable regulation of the interior design profession and the 16th state to provide independent practice rights to NCIDQ Certificate holders.
Legislative Bill 16 (LB 16) passed the Nebraska Senate by a 42-1-1 vote and was signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen on March 5, 2024. LB 16, an occupational regulation bill which deals with licensure reciprocity and criminal convictions, was amended on the Senate floor to include language creating a voluntary registry for qualified interior designers to independently practice within the scope of work defined. This new law adds Nebraska to the growing list of states that have considered this issue and seen the value of reasonable regulation of interior design.
The bill’s passage is the culmination of a years-long effort by the local chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), with support and guidance from the Consortium for Interior Design, a collaborative advocacy group made up of ASID National, IIDA Headquarters, and the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). Their efforts garnered the support of many Senators, including Senators Tom Brewer, Suzanne Geist, and Megan Hunt. Thanks to their efforts and the passion of advocates for reasonable regulation, the state of Nebraska now recognizes the critical role that interior designers play as professionals who advance the health, safety, and well-being of building occupants and the general public, and allows qualified professionals to practice independently as they are trained and tested to do.
CIDQ congratulates the advocates in Nebraska and thanks Senators Hunt, Brewer, Geist, and all the members of the Nebraska Senate who supported this critical legislation. A special thanks is extended to Senator Tom Brewer, who recognized the importance of collaboration between the design professions; not just in the design process, but in the development of good policy that protects the public.
Title Act Expansion and Modernization Bill Introduced in Missouri Legislature
Published 2.15.24
Legislation expanding the state of Missouri’s Interior Design Title Act has been introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives. HB 2158, sponsored by Representative Sherri Gallick, and SB 1325, sponsored by Senator Tracy McCreery would continue the trend of states adopting new or expanded legislation providing for reasonable regulation of the interior design profession.
As introduced, the bills adopt an updated and specifically defined scope of practice for Registered Interior Designers and provide title holders with the ability to obtain a seal for use to stamp nonstructural interior construction plans for permitting. Much of the language is borrowed from legislation adopted in other states and drafted through collaboration between the architecture and interior design communities in those states. IIDA and ASID chapters hope to build upon that collaboration; however, the Missouri component of the American Institute of Architects has communicated its opposition to the bills to the sponsors.
Iowa Legislature Passes Independent Practice Rights for Certified Interior Designers
Published 4.28.23
The Iowa Legislature recently passed legislation that expands the interior design title act to include stamp and seal privileges. This new bill, SF 135 was backed by the Iowa Chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), with support from CIDQ, and was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on April 27. The law will now allow qualified interior designers to officially stamp and seal their plans and drawings, which will help ensure the safety and well-being of the general public.
Prior to this legislation, many interior designers in Iowa were limited in their practice due to their lack of stamp and seal privileges. This limitation prevented NCIDQ Certified interior designers from taking on larger and more complex projects, despite being qualified to practice independently. The new legislation will change that by allowing NCIDQ Certified interior designers who register with the state to stamp and seal their interior plans and drawings. NCIDQ Certification is awarded to interior designers who have completed the necessary education and practical experience requirements, consistently participate in continuing education courses, and have successfully passed a rigorous examination.
“This collaborative effort and modernizing legislation recognize that NCIDQ Certified interior designers are qualified to protect the public in independent practice.,” said CIDQ CEO Thom Banks. “We thank Senator Cournoyer and Representative Golding for their support of this legislation and commend the efforts of advocates for reasonable regulation on their collaboration towards the shared goal of protecting public safety.”
CIDQ congratulates advocates for their efforts, which will increase accountability, support economic growth, and improve the safety and well-being of the public. This new law is something that all interior designers in Iowa can be proud of, and it is something that will undoubtedly benefit their clients and the public for years to come.
Interior Design Act Preserved in New Mexico Legislature
Published 4.6.23
The New Mexico Legislature has taken action to preserve the reasonable regulation of interior design and the public protection provided by the Interior Design Act.
During the 2022 interim, the Legislative Finance Committee recommended a sunset of the Interior Design Board, due to the Board’s inability to self-sustain. This recommendation would have caused the sunset of the Interior Design Act, which would have had unintended consequences for licensed professionals and public safety. To avoid those consequences, members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA), in collaboration with the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ), worked with state legislators to address the concerns of the Finance Committee and maintain the Interior Design Act.
This collaboration resulted in legislative language that continues the registration of Licensed Interior Designers in New Mexico as an administrative function of the Regulation and Licensing Department. The bill, HB 384, was signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 6, 2023. CIDQ thanks Representative Gallegos for her stewardship of this language and applauds the New Mexico chapters of ASID and IIDA for advocating for reasonable regulation of interior design.
Announcing the Consortium for Interior Design
Published 3.27.23
CIDQ is joining the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) in forming the Consortium for Interior Design, a collaborative dedicated to advocacy for public safety in the built environment.
The reasonable regulation of interior design is crucial for public health, safety, and welfare. Interior designers are responsible for creating spaces that promote physical and mental well-being, meet safety standards, and are accessible and inclusive. Without state oversight ensuring competent practice in public spaces, unqualified designers may use harmful materials, create unsafe conditions, or ignore social behavior and productivity. Reasonable regulation ensures that designers work within a framework that protects the public from hazards and promotes the welfare of those who occupy the spaces they create. Unfortunately, some states do not yet recognize the interior design profession’s impact on public safety and don’t have laws protecting their citizens from unregulated and incompetent practice.
Supporting and advancing the protection of the public is CIDQ’s mission; it is why we administer the NCIDQ exam and why our organization has always supported state and provincial oversight of our certificate holders. Meeting the public need for reasonable regulation of interior design is the primary goal of the Consortium for Interior Design, and we are excited to partner with ASID and IIDA to advocate for smart policies that protect the public.
Illinois Legislature Passes Practice Rights Legislation
Published 6.13.22
The state of Illinois has become the 15th state to confer independent practice rights on NCIDQ Certified interior designers. On June 10, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed HB 4715 into law, which provides a stamp that Illinois Registered Interior Designers may use to seal interior, nonstructural construction plans for permitting. Achieving this goal was a collaborative effort between state members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
The legislation was sponsored by Representative Margaret Croke (D) and Senator Laura Fine (D). The bill garnered wide support in both parties, exemplified by several co-sponsorships and passing with unanimous passage in both the House and the Senate. Illinois joins several states including Wisconsin and North Carolina that have committed to reasonable regulation of interior design.
“Interior designers are highly-skilled professionals who must have significant qualifications to pursue a career in the industry,” said bill sponsor State Representative Margaret Croke. “This bill will allow them to stamp their own design plans for non-structural construction, removing an unnecessary barrier for those in the industry. Interior design is a traditionally female-dominated industry, and I’m proud to lead efforts to ease the challenges they face.”
These efforts show the continued importance of reasonable regulation of interior design to protect the public in the built environment. CIDQ thanks Representative Croke and Senator Fine for their support of public protection and applauds the design professionals of Illinois who worked tirelessly on this historic achievement.
Wisconsin Legislature Modernizes Interior Design Regulation
Published 3.21.22
On March 17th, 2022, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed SB 344 into law, which provides Wisconsin Registered Interior Designers the ability to stamp and seal their own plans for construction permitting. Passage of this law marks the latest success in the nationwide effort of ASID, IIDA, and CIDQ to establish reasonable regulation of interior design. This new law makes Wisconsin the 14th state to allow qualified, certified interior designers to practice independently.
First introduced during the 2020 session and sponsored by Representative Cody Horlacher and Senator Dale Kooyenga, the new legislation reinforces the critical role of Wisconsin interior designers who protect occupant health safety in their work through robust practice rights and a strong scope of practice. In addition to stamp and seal privileges for WRIDs, the new law also adds a Board for Interior Designers to the Joint Examining Board along with the other design professions.
CIDQ looks forward to working with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Board in the coming weeks to provide Wisconsin NCIDQ Certificate holders with more information about this new law. We commend the members of ASID, IIDA and AIA for their hard work on this legislation and applaud the Wisconsin Legislature for modernizing and advancing reasonable interior design regulation in their state.
AIA Revises Interior Design Opposition Position Statement
Published 1.18.22
At their December 10th board meeting, the Board of Directors at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) voted to revise a long-standing organizational position statement of opposition to reasonable regulation of interior design in US jurisdictions. The new position eliminates “outright” opposition to interior design licensure, and due to the change, AIA state components are no longer compelled by AIA National to oppose interior design regulation proposals in their jurisdiction. According to AIA, the revision is intended to allow AIA state components to “be more flexible and to negotiate and discuss options and remedies with legislators, regulators, and partner groups that best suit their respective state since each state is different.” In addition to the new position statement, AIA has created an FAQ document about the Board’s decision.
The newly approved AIA position statement is as follows:
“In the public interest, the AIA holds that architects licensed through rigorous examination possess the necessary education, training, and experience to lead the design process and protect the health, safety, and welfare in the built environment. While other regulated or licensed professionals may participate or be responsible for specialized and focused components, architects are uniquely qualified to take responsible control for the coordinated integration of building systems through a comprehensive understanding of design, construction, and the coordination of project teams from project inception to completion.”
CIDQ believes this is a good first step towards a more informed and productive dialogue between the interior design and architecture communities on this issue, and an important development for the advancement of the public protection through reasonable regulation. There is still much work to be done, and more informed conversations to be had between the design professions. CIDQ commends AIA for taking this important first step, and we look forward to participating in and helping to inform those discussions.
Questions regarding reasonable regulation of interior design and the Consortium for Interior Design can be directed to Matt Barusch.