Advocacy efforts continue to gain momentum across the country. From landmark laws in Missouri and Alaska to important wins in Tennessee and Louisiana, these achievements reflect the ongoing impact of coordinated advocacy and the role designers play in protecting the profession from deregulation.

Independent Practice Right for Missouri 

Missouri has become the latest state to pass legislation that grants independent practice rights for qualified interior designers through modernized legislation. Senate Bill 1233 includes language building on the state’s existing Title Act to allow qualified, licensed interior designers to practice independently and sign and seal their own documents. The bill passed the state legislature on May 28, 2026, and signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe on July 13, 2026. Missouri is the second state this year to modernize its legislation, following Utah’s win earlier this year. 

Alaska Advances after Years of Advocacy 

House Bill (HB) 314   passed the Alaska state legislature on June 4, 2026, and became law on June 19, 2026.  It establishes a protected title for qualified interior designers in Alaska and grants them the authority to stamp interior design plans for nonstructural, nonseismic interior construction projects. The bill creates a registration pathway for registered interior designers through the Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS Board), formally recognizing interior designers as regulated design professionals in commercial practice. Alaska is the second state this year to gain recognition, after Idaho’s historic win this March.

Deregulation Efforts Defeated in Tennessee

Hard work paid off for Tennessee interior design advocates who worked to defeat deregulation efforts in that state. On May 21, 2026, Governor Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 2224, which amended interior designers out of a deregulation bill. Tennessee marks the third state to overcome a deregulation effort this year, with other efforts occurring in Florida and Utah.

Louisiana Secures Sunset Extension 

On May 15, 2026, Louisiana approved its sunset extension, ensuring the continuation of existing interior design legislation and maintaining important protections for the profession until 2032. Louisiana is one of many “sunset” states, where occupational licensing laws have an expiration date. Illinois is also working to pass a sunset extension bill this year.

IIDA Welcomes New Members of the Advocacy Advisory Council

The goal of the IIDA Advocacy Advisory Council is to provide guidance to the IIDA International Board and support to practitioners and advocates for strengthened recognition, visibility, and public perception of the education, experience, examination, and expertise of the interior design profession and its role in protecting the health, safety, and well-being of the public. IIDA welcomes its newest members:

Amie Keener, FIIDA, with more than 25 years of experience in the commercial building industry, is passionate about pushing design boundaries and enhancing awareness to create inclusive spaces for everyone. Following a hip/hamstring injury, she experienced firsthand the impact of space design on people of all abilities. This life-changing event fueled her commitment to inclusive design. As a Firmwide Inclusive Design Network Co-Leader, Keener, is a sought-after speaker on topics such as inclusive design, research, and neurodiversity. She shares her expertise with audiences across various sectors, including architecture, design, real estate, retail, workplace, and insurance industries. In addition to her speaking engagements, she is also an accomplished author. She has written numerous articles and publications on inclusive design and related topics, contributing insights to industry journals and magazines. She is a graduate of Kansas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree with specialties in furniture and product design. Keener is a Registered Interior Designer in the state of Texas. 

Sara Ables, IIDA, Registered Interior Designer, is a Senior Designer at OTJ in Dallas, Texas. Sara received a BFA in Interior Design from the University of North Texas in 2014. Ables spent the first decade of her career as an interior designer specializing in furniture services and strategy on all phases of corporate interiors projects. Since 2015, she has served in various volunteer roles with IIDA in the Dallas City Center and Texas Oklahoma Chapter. She served as the Immediate Past President for the IIDA TX OK Chapter through June 2026. Ables has focused on student and educator initiatives to bring awareness, access, and opportunities to the architecture and interior design industry through her service leadership within Corgan and IIDA and volunteering with organizations like The Hip Hop Architecture Camp and the ACE Mentor Program. She served on IIDA’s inaugural Equity Council in 2021 and is a 2022 ASID Ones to Watch Scholar. In 2024, Sara was recognized as the IIDA Member of the Year. 

Felice Silverman, FIIDA, is a Principal at STA Design Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). She served as President of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) from 2013-2014 and served on IIDA’s International Board of Directors from 2009-2016. Silverman has been practicing interior design for the past 30 years, focusing on designing interior spaces for innovation, workplace, education, children, hospitality, healthcare, and well-being. She is NCIDQ certified, and was the 2006-2007 President of the IIDA New England Chapter. She served on The Boston Architectural College’s Board of Trustees from 2009-2012 and 2016-2018, as an Overseer from 2012-2016, and was the Chair of the BAC's Interior Design Advisory Board and Student Development Committee. Felice is the Past President of the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) and has served as a member of the Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition Advisory Council. She has been an educator and guest critic at many colleges and has served on numerous competition juries nationally and internationally. Felice was the Co-Chair of the Boston Society of Architects Women in Design Award of Excellence for the past 9 years and a member of the Design Museum Foundation’s Center for Workplace Innovation Think Tank. She was elected to the IIDA College for Fellows in 2014 and is the recipient of a 2014 Design New England Mentors in Design (Middies) Award. Felice received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Harvard University in 1985 and her Master of Interior Design from Boston Architectural College.

Find the full roster of the IIDA Advocacy Advisory Council here. 

Learn more about IIDA's Advocacy efforts or find out how to be involved in your state.