Idaho Legislature Passes Landmark Interior Design Legislation

BOISE, Idaho (March 31, 2026) — Idaho has become the 30th state and 32nd U.S. jurisdiction to enact reasonable regulation of the interior design profession. House Bill 790 (HB 790) was passed by the Idaho Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Brad Little on March 30, 2026.

The legislation establishes a title act for qualified interior designers, allowing them to independently practice within a defined scope of work. It creates a voluntary protected title and registry for NCIDQ Certified interior designers, granting qualified professionals the ability to stamp and seal construction documents for permitting.

“On behalf of the Consortium for Interior Design, we are proud of the work of Idaho practitioners, who effectively communicated the value of interior design to decision-makers,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “This legislation will empower designers and firms, including many small business owners, to work to the full extent of their capabilities, which will ultimately benefit the daily lives of Idaho residents. IIDA is committed to advocating for increased recognition of this vital profession.”

Title holders will be regulated by the Idaho Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, with input from the public, the Legislature and interior design practitioners.

HB 790 makes Idaho the latest state to establish or modernize legislation recognizing the qualifications and contributions of interior designers. Recent efforts include Utah in 2025; Nebraska and Oklahoma in 2024; Iowa in 2023; Illinois and Wisconsin in 2022; and North Carolina in 2021. These efforts reflect sustained, multiyear advocacy led by local chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), with support from the Consortium for Interior Design, a collaborative initiative of ASID, IIDA and the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).

Idaho’s action reflects a broader national trend to formally recognize interior designers as key contributors to the built environment. The law acknowledges the profession’s expertise in life-safety systems, accessibility standards and building codes, including solutions that support Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and fire safety.

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About the Consortium for Interior Design
The Consortium for Interior Design is a collaborative advocacy initiative of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The organizations are committed to advancing legal recognition and reasonable regulation of the interior design profession. For more information, visit www.consortiumforinteriordesign.org