Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico interior design community celebrates the passage of House Bill 384 in New Mexico, which protects the title and legal recognition of licensed interior designers in the state. With unanimity from both chambers of the New Mexico legislature, the bill was officially signed into law today by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. This victory follows success in other states to resist efforts that threaten the legal standing of commercial interior design. Following Similar Efforts in Wisconsin and Virginia, HB 384 Prevents Dissolution of Interior Design Board.

The Southwest Chapter of the International Interior Design Association worked with the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) on the introduction of HB 384. This legislation counteracted a bill that would have sunsetted and ultimately, dissolved the New Mexico Interior Design Board and removed the protected title of “Licensed Interior Designers” for those licensed professionals in New Mexico

As part of HB 384, the previously existing Interior Design Board has been absorbed into an administrative function of the Regulation and Licensing Department, which will maintain the protected title for interior designers and regulatory oversight of the profession. The work done to combat this bill protects not only the interior design profession, but also the impact the built environment has on public health and safety.

As other deregulatory efforts arose in states including Virginia and Wisconsin within the last year, local practitioners and advocates have worked with ASID and IIDA to defend the profession and maintain reasonable regulation of qualified practitioners.

“The passage of House Bill 384 in New Mexico, along with our advocacy in Virginia and Wisconsin to protect the profession, demonstrates the willingness of legislators to support the critical role that commercial interior design plays in the health, safety, and well-being of the public,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA.

To access the full House Bill 384 and for more information, click here.