Advocacy Works: July 2024

Jul 11, 2024 By Marci Merola

From grassroots efforts to landmark legislation, find out how interior design advocacy works across the country

By Marci Merola Jul 11, 2024

Published in Advocacy

In the latest installment of IIDA Advocacy Works, our chapters highlight recent efforts and achievements, showcasing the dedication and progress of our IIDA advocates. Their pursuit of design excellence, legislative progress, leadership, and reasonable regulation for the profession has been instrumental in elevating the perception and standing of interior design. All politics are local, but momentum is national! Together we hope to inspire everyone’s inner advocate for positive change.

Oklahoma

House Bill 1793 Signed into Law

Texas Oklahoma Chapter Past VP of Advocacy (Oklahoma), Katelyn Bell, IIDA; Incoming VP of Advocacy (Oklahoma), Mackenzie Matray, IIDA

HB 1793 was approved by the Oklahoma House and Senate, then signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt on April 26, 2024. This landmark bill, sponsored by Representative Mike Osburn and Senator Adam Pugh, recognizes interior design as a distinct profession in the built environment and acknowledges the vital role that professional interior designers play in safeguarding occupant health, safety, and well-being. HB 1793 changes the title “Registered Commercial Interior Designer” to “Licensed Interior Designer” with a specified scope of practice. The law goes into effect August 1. Practitioners will continue to be regulated by the Oklahoma Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers. This multiple-year effort was led by the Oklahoma Interior Design Coalition, in collaboration with the IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter and the Consortium for Interior Design.

Oklahoma’s House Bill 1793 was signed into law in late April. The law takes effect August 1.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter

Oklahoma’s House Bill 1793 was signed into law in late April. The law takes effect August 1.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter

Massachusetts

Senate Bill 2408 Moves Forward

New England Chapter Past VP of Advocacy, Krista Easterly, IIDA; Incoming VP of Advocacy, Amanda Vigneau, IIDA

The Massachusetts Senate passed S 2408, “An Act Relative to Advancing the Profession of Commercial Interior Design,” on June 6, 2024. The passage of this bill will allow qualified interior designers to become licensed professionals in the state of Massachusetts and it will allow them to sign and seal drawings. “This bill will create a Board of Registration to license and develop professional standards to allow highly educated commercial interior design professionals to operate independently of architects. The lack of professional recognition and restrictions have limited career pathways for many qualified designers in an industry that historically is dominated by women,” said Senator Joan Lovely, primary bill sponsor. The bill now heads to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

Massachusetts Day on the Hill

On Thursday, April 11, nearly 100 members of the Massachusetts design community gathered at the Massachusetts State House to lobby for interior design licensure. By joining forces with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the group met with every Senator or respective staff member at the State House. Those efforts paid off in early June, when S 2408 was passed by the Senate.

Nearly 100 members of the Massachusetts design community gathered at the Massachusetts State House in April to lobby for interior design licensure.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA New England Chapter

Nearly 100 members of the Massachusetts design community gathered at the Massachusetts State House in April to lobby for interior design licensure.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA New England Chapter

Members of the IIDA New England Chapter visited the Massachusetts State House in April.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA New England Chapter

Members of the IIDA New England Chapter visited the Massachusetts State House in April.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA New England Chapter

Wisconsin

Rules and Regulations Pass

Wisconsin Chapter VP of Advocacy, Libby Castro, Assoc. IIDA

On August 1, 2024, Wisconsin registered interior designers will be able to exercise their permitting privileges. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) finalized the Rules and Regulations on Monday, July 8, 2024, more than two years after Governor Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 195.

“It’s been a journey!” said Laura Schade Stroik, IIDA, whose involvement with independent practice rights for Wisconsin included a term on the DSPS board, as well as serving as VP of Advocacy for the chapter during the legislative run. “We are thrilled to notify Wisconsin practitioners that they are finally able to stamp and seal.”

“I’ll be working with the chapter and ASID Wisconsin to encourage practitioners to register with the state,” said Libby Castro, IIDA, Wisconsin Chapter VP of Advocacy. “It’s so important to demonstrate that the profession is part of Wisconsin’s economic engine.”

Nebraska

A Celebration of Legislative Bill 16

Great Plains Chapter VP of Advocacy (Nebraska), Stacy Spale, IIDA

IIDA Great Plains, in collaboration with ASID’s Nebraska/Iowa Chapter, hosted a joint celebration of the passage of Legislative Bill 16 on May 22. Held at Kitchens and Baths by Briggs in Omaha, the event included a champagne toast sponsored by Cambria, and the chapter presented several certificates of appreciation to designers, Nebraska lobbyists, and Nebraska state senators.

In May, the IIDA Great Plains Chapter, in partnership with ASID’s Nebraska/Iowa Chapter, celebrated the passage of Legislative Bill 16.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA Great Plains Chapter

In May, the IIDA Great Plains Chapter, in partnership with ASID’s Nebraska/Iowa Chapter, celebrated the passage of Legislative Bill 16.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA Great Plains Chapter

At the celebratory event, the Great Plains Chapter presented certificates of appreciation to those involved in the bill’s passage.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA Great Plains Chapter

At the celebratory event, the Great Plains Chapter presented certificates of appreciation to those involved in the bill’s passage.

Photo by Image courtesy of the IIDA Great Plains Chapter

Illinois

Advocacy Road Show and Videos to Premiere

Illinois Chapter VP of Advocacy, Mo Alsinan, Assoc. IIDA; Director of Advocacy, Jessica Kirshner, Assoc. IIDA

IIDA Illinois’s advocacy team is planning two “Advocacy Road Shows” throughout the year to promote a deeper understanding of the importance of registry and certification. The road shows will focus on educating students and new practitioners about how both NCIDQ certification and becoming registered in the state can help them realize their potential in the industry. Upcoming road shows are scheduled for this summer and winter to align with NCIDQ exam timelines.

In addition, IIDA Illinois is creating a short video focusing on telling the important story of design through the perspective of end users who have hired interior designers to help them solve complex problems and meet the needs of diverse communities. “Now that our HB 4715 has passed, we need to be a little bit louder and a little bit prouder about what designers are doing out in the marketplace,” said Mo Alsinan, Assoc. IIDA, Illinois Chapter VP of Advocacy.

The chapter hopes the video will help “build a sense of pride in the work we do as a practice and create a sense of community and belonging through storytelling. These stories will aim to encourage anyone who hasn’t obtained their NCIDQ [certification] to sit for the exam and register with the state,” said Alsinan.

The video will premiere at the close of the Chapter’s RED (Recognizing Exemplary Design) Awards, this July.

Missouri

Senate Bill 1325 and House Bill 2158 Update

Gateway Chapter VP of Advocacy, Kelly Kirtland, IIDA; IIDA Mid-America Chapter Past VP of Advocacy, Meghan Dudek, IIDA; Incoming VP of Advocacy, Katie Kenagy, IIDA

Missouri introduced two bills this session that would grant registered interior designers sign and seal privileges for non-structural, non-seismic, and non-loadbearing design elements as they are qualified and tested to do. The bill clearly defines the scope of practice for a registered interior designer, and what may be included within the scope of work in this practice. Although both bills made it to committee, they did not pass this session. They will be reintroduced in the 2025 session.

Alaska

Senate Bill 73 and House Bill 159 Update

Northern Pacific Chapter Incoming VP of Advocacy, Megan Onley, IIDA

Despite a dedicated advocacy team, which includes members of the architecture and engineering communities, and multiple trips to the state capitol, Alaska’s companion bills, SB 73 and HB 159, fell short of the May 16 close of the biennial session—thanks, in part, to a filibuster on the House floor. Plans are underway for the 2025 legislative session.

California

The Conversation Continues Podcast Series

Southern California Chapter VPs of Advocacy, Nicole Delin-Grant and Gabrielle Mote, IIDA

Introduced in 2022 by IIDA SoCal EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), The Conversation Continues podcast was created to serve as a platform to explore EDI in commercial interior design and affiliated industries. The series includes a number of advocacy-related conversations, including a June episode featuring members of the Consortium for Interior Design discussing advocacy strategies and successes. Other advocacy-related episodes include a conversation about the benefits of joining IIDA as a student and a discussion with California lobbyist Full Moon Strategies about IIDA California’s legislative future.