Advocacy

Legislation

Interior Design legislation helps establish and maintain professional standards that protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. IIDA firmly believes that legal recognition, achieved through licensing, registration, and certification brings uniformity to the profession, defines responsibility, and encourages excellence in the Interior Design industry.

Currently, Interior Designers who are trained and qualified to work in a code-impacted environment are restricted from practicing to their fullest abilities in certain states. As the only major, unlicensed participants in the construction industry, these Interior Designers lack the ability to independently stamp and submit their work for building permits as required by the building code.

Spotlight

IIDA VP of Advocacy, Amanda Vigneau on behalf of the hardworking IIDA NE Advocacy Team:

Massachusetts Updates:

2025 was a year filled with conversation and collaboration with our industry partners.  On July 14th, 2025, members of our community testified on behalf of our bill at the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure at the Massachusetts State House.   What was new for us this year, is that after months of conversation, collaboration and understanding, we presented alongside AIA Massachusetts on amendments to our bill, and for the first time, have their full support. The bill, with our shared amendments was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. 

For the start of 2026 and the second half of this current legislative session, we are focusing on continuing to make connections and have conversations with the House Bill H.4354 and Senate Bill S.2620 Ways and Means legislators and staff.  In the coming months, both Ways and Means Committees will look at our Bill and we will wait for them to favorably report it out of the Committee.  From there it goes to the House and Senate floors for votes.   Once the House and Senate passes our bill, it will be sent to the Governor's desk to be signed into a law. 
 
Please note that the bill is NOT a law yet but we have a version of the bill that is stronger than ever and is making its way through the legislative process.   

We are closer than ever to legal recognition of the interior design profession in Massachusetts, but we need YOU to keep this momentum going!  A strong showing of support is a vital step in establishing registration for commercial interior designers in Massachusetts, similar to a majority of states' frameworks. Please email your State Representative or Senate Member and encourage them to reach out to the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman in support of S2620 and H354. 

Rhode Island Updates:

2025 was a big year for Rhode Island, with the Advocacy committee growing in members and momentum as we held conversations with our Architectural colleagues, hosted educational events, and refined future bill language. The year was capped off with receiving a grant from the National Consortium for Interior Design (IIDA, ASID, and CIDQ) to help provide funding for our legislative efforts.

In January 2026, armed with our lobbyist, McAuliffe Group, we officially submitted ourlegislation to both the Senate and the House with bill sponsors Senator Hanna Gallo andRepresentative Lauren Carson. Unlike Massachusetts, Rhode Island only has a one yearlegislative cycle, meaning the committee is working diligently to hold importantconversations with bill sponsors, legislators, and opposing parties to create an alignmentof goals and language before the end of the cycle in late June. On March 10th, thecommittee testified in front of the Senate Commerce Committee. Twelve individuals intotal testified in support of the legislation, ranging from small business owners, Architects,designers, and educators. It was an incredible showing from this smallbut mightycommunity! The bill was held by the committee for further review. The House hearings willtake place late March or early April, giving the team another opportunity to testify.

Once all initial hearings have taken place, both the Senate and House will review the bill and any necessary amendments, and eventually send it to the floor for a vote. If the bill is favorably reported out of both chambers, it will be sent to the Governor’s desk to be signed into a law. While there were some anticipated testimonies in opposition to the bill, AIA Rhode Island has agreed to an in-person meeting to discuss concerns from the membership. We are looking forward to an opportunity to collaborate with our Architectural colleagues and hopefully come to a state of non-opposition.

As noted, we only have a few months left until the end of the legislative cycle, so we need your help to keep this momentum going! If you live or work in RI, please consider emailing you State Representative or State Senator and urge them to support S2518 / H7842