(BOSTON 6/11/2024) – Last week, the Massachusetts Senate passed An act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design. Under this legislation, commercial interior designers would have the opportunity to become registered professionals in the state of Massachusetts. As the law currently stands, with certain state and federal projects requiring licensure, Massachusetts designers often have to contract with larger firms or individuals with architectural licenses in order to be eligible for these projects. This often results in lost revenue for interior designers in this majority-women field.
Creating a licensed profession statewide would enable registered interior designers to bid individually on certain projects currently off-limits, growing small businesses that are often women-led, and incentivizing graduates in the field to stay in Massachusetts to build their careers and not have to go out-of-state to be able to bid on work.
“This bill levels the playing field for independent interior designers and creates more opportunities for those in this majority-women professional field,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “By establishing a Board of Registration to ensure best practices are being adhered to by licensees, we can nurture a profession that helps make our homes and offices more comfortable, accessible, and efficient. I’m pleased to have voted to approve this bill and I am thankful to my colleagues for advancing a common-sense initiative like this.”
This legislation also has strong support from the International Interior Design Association New England Chapter (IIDA NE) which has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts related to this issue.
“I, along with the members of IIDA New England Chapter would like to thank Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues for supporting and advancing this important legislation. We also want to thank Senator Joan Lovely for sponsoring this legislation in the Senate and for her steadfast commitment and support to seeing it pass,” said Krista Easterly, NCIDQ, Vice President of Advocacy IIDA New England. “This bill will provide qualified commercial interior designers with the opportunity to become licensed professionals in the Commonwealth and allow them to sign and seal drawings; a vital requirement for gaining access to project opportunities and business ownership. As an industry predominantly comprised of women and small and minority owned businesses, being recognized as licensed professionals will shatter the glass ceiling and afford new opportunities for them to expand their portfolios and encourage recent graduates of interior design programs in Massachusetts to establish their careers here.”
Licensure would allow interior designers to:
Obtain building permits independent of a licensed architect;
Prepare plans and specifications; and
Supervise new construction, alterations, repair of a building’s interior space within newly constructed or existing buildings when core and shell structural elements are not being changed.
This bill removes the existing structure that requires partners in design-build firms, who are often women, to sell part of their ownership to ensure the firm meets the requirement of being majority-owned by registered professionals to allow bidding on certain state and federal projects. It also expands the Designer Selection Board to include three certified interior designers and creates a board to oversee the registration of interior designers who are qualified and want to practice commercial interior design.
Having been passed by the Senate, the legislation now heads to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.
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