New Law is the Latest in a Wave of Collaborative Industry Efforts
LINCOLN, Neb. (March 2024) – Nebraska has become the 29th state and 31st U.S. jurisdiction to institute reasonable regulation of the interior design profession. Legislative Bill 16 (LB 16) was passed by the Nebraska State Senate and signed into law by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on March 5, 2024.
Approved in a 42-1 floor vote, LB 16 was amended to include language creating a voluntary registry for qualified interior designers to independently practice within the scope of work defined. The bill makes Nebraska the latest state to establish or modernize legislation for registered interior designers, following Iowa in 2023; Illinois and Wisconsin in 2022; and North Carolina in 2021, and represents a multiple-year effort by the local chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), with support and guidance from the Consortium for Interior Design, a collaborative advocacy group comprised of ASID, IIDA and the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).
“In establishing legal recognition for the interior design profession, this legislation will protect Nebraskans’ health, safety and well-being, while allowing qualified professionals to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training,” said Marilyn Hansen, 50-year ASID member and current president of ASID Nebraska-Iowa. “We are so appreciative of the support and guidance from the national organizations and the teamwork demonstrated among the ASID and IIDA chapters to make Nebraska consistent with 30 other U.S. jurisdictions recognizing the education and experience of NCIDQ Certified interior designers. The passage of LB 16 also speaks to the collaboration among design and construction professionals, and Registered Interior Designers are excited to join allied design professionals in protecting public health, safety and well-being in the built environment.”
Sen. Tom Brewer (R) and his staff held several meetings with interior design practitioners, educators and members of the American Institute of Architects Nebraska Chapter to tailor language eventually adopted as an amendment to LB 16, which was sponsored by Sen. Danielle Conrad (D). LB 16 establishes a Title Act for Registered Interior Designers in Nebraska that includes the ability for qualified interior designers to stamp and seal documents for permitting; title holders will be regulated and overseen by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office.
“With the passage of this bill, we affirm not just the value of interior design by confirming the critical role interior designers play as professionals in the built environment, but also highlight the importance of empowering NCIDQ Certified professionals in this field to practice independently as they are trained and tested to do,” said Stacy Spale, vice president of advocacy for IIDA Great Plains. “Granting interior designers the right to independently stamp and seal their own construction documents is a recognition of their expertise, and a step toward ensuring safety, functionality, and good design in the interior built environment. We are excited to embrace this change and continue to support all those who strive to make Nebraska a better place.”
LB 16 serves as the latest in a recent national trend to recognize interior designers’ role as professionals who protect building occupants’ health and overall well-being through their work, and recognizes the education and knowledge of interior designers on safety solutions in the built environment, including ADA-friendly features and fire safety codes.
About the Consortium for Interior Design
The Consortium for Interior Design is a collaborative advocacy effort by The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). These organizations are committed to advocating for legal recognition and reasonable regulation of the interior design profession. For more information, visit www.consortiumforinteriordesign.org.
