Will that be a Viking or a Sub-Zero for that new kitchen? Granite counters or polished concrete? LED lights or incandescent?
Sen. Matt Claman has offered a bill creating yet another barrier to employment: He wants interior designers working in Alaska to be required to be licensed in Alaska through a board that now licenses architects and engineers.
According to Senate Bill 73, these interior designers would have their license overseen by a board. It’s not made clear in the bill if this is only applying to commercial interior design.
Unlike engineers and others who alter the structures of buildings, interior designers typically work in design centers of hardware stores, furniture stores, or often as independents who have business-to-business relationships with contractors. Some have had training and some even have associates or bachelors degrees in the field, which is all about aesthetics, safety, and functionality. Many come up through the trades, while others have related degrees, such as art history or even business.
The board that oversees engineers and architects would have authority over the qualifying, registration, and decertification of designers who pick curtains, bathroom fixtures, and bedroom ensembles.
Alaska does not currently require licensure or even offer registration to work as an interior designer and only a handful of states do require it for unsupervised commercial work, such as Louisiana, Florida, Nevada, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Florida is considering deregulating the field, and it was even mentioned in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state of the state speech.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics says that the job description for interior designers is that they “make indoor spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting essential and decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They must be able to draw, read, and edit blueprints.”
The first hearing for the SB 73 will be in Senate Labor and Commerce Committee at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, April 12. It will be teleconferenced.
It’s unclear who is pushing the bill, which is meant to protect existing interior designers against those who might come into the profession by apprenticing or through their own gifts, but the American Society of Interior Design of Alaska is the likely suspect, as it hired veteran lobbyist David Parish to work on this bill last year.
Last week in New Mexico, a similar bill passed, requiring licenses for interior designers. It was signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The American Society of Interior Design got behind that bill and is pushing legislation across the country to fight the movement toward deregulation that has arisen and to support more regulations for interior designers in states like Alaska.
Senate Labor and Commerce members are Sens. Jesse Bjorkman, Click Bishop, Elvi Gray-Jackson, Kelly Merrick, and Forrest Dunbar.
Unnecessary-
That is just stupid. Interior designers are nowhere near the league of engineers or architects. Just what Alaska needs more regulations and another branch of government.
Actually, Interior Designers take many of the same courses as Architects and it requires a bachelors degree from a certified program to even claim the title of Interior Designer. They learn international building code, human health and wellness, ADA/ABA requirements, as well as the same drawing standards that architects and engineers do. What you are thinking about is an Interior decorator that does not require any formal schooling. This bill is actually to protect the health and safety of the people of Alaska by requiring designers to be liable for their own work and will make the design field in Alaska more competitive and desirable to attract talented designers to our state.
‘This bill is actually to protect the health and safety of the people of Alaska by requiring designers to be liable for their own work and will make the design field in Alaska more competitive and desirable to attract talented designers to our state’
How does this bill specifically change the current liabilities? And just how will those changes protect our health and safety.
Then explain how MORE government regulations will make any field more competitive and attractive to anyone.
I am on the industry and ADA/ABA requires are met by engineers and architects. I have never seen a interior designer on a single project in 27 years.
“ Last week in New Mexico, a similar bill passed, requiring licenses for interior designers. It was signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The American Society of Interior Design got behind that bill and is pushing legislation across the country to fight the movement toward deregulation…”
What a waste of time and money. I am glad that Claman feels the urgent need to protect me from the rapacious but unlicensed designers at Allen & Peterson. How could I have possibly bought a new fridge there by myself without protection by the State?
That would not require a registered interior designer, unless replacing your refrigerator would somehow become a life safety issue. Planning to put it in the middle of an exit corridor?
John, it’s much worse than the article says. There are very few interior designers in Alaska anyway, but this will add one more member to the commission that oversees engineers and architects, giving a tiny group of people power over a much more regulated sector. There is no comparison between these fields, and the educational requirements are vastly different. I wager that the commission is against adding an interior designer.
Just what we need – more regulation requiring more regulators and funding, and more restriction on the free market. Claman, you’ve been watching too much HGTV. Please vote NO on this stupid.
The Democrats insist on trying to control everyone and everything we do.
Typical liberal angry dishonest hateful socialistic communistic ungrateful gun grabbing anti American spend-a-holic democrats.
Interior designers are not allowed to have anything to do with the structural integrity of a building nor anything to do with life or fire safety. That statement is incorrect. They are just people who pick fabrics and paint like a woman accessorizes her outfit. They are required to have no formal education, so caveat emptor.
Actually, once registered, an interior designer can stamp drawings that affect life or fire safety. You are correct that they will not have anything to do with structural integrity. They will hire a civil or structural engineer to deal with those issues, just like an architect would. If all you want is fabrics (that don’t burn) and paint colors, then hire an interior decorator or unregistered interior designer. If they are doing anything that affects exiting or fire safety, your options will be a registered interior designer or architect.
There will be requirements beyond what is currently necessary to be an interior designer before they will be stamping any plans. This is just government reaching into the pocket of the independent business operator again. Thank goodness they haven’t been able to come up with a test to make me get a license for what I do.
Yes, because currently interior designers cannot stamp plans that affect public safety. They have to hire an architect to do that. The interior designers that want to be decorators and not work with exiting, fire separation, and other issues of public safety can continue doing what they have been doing. But the ones who have been educated in those issues, have experience with them, and pass a national exam can do those designs without hiring an architect to stamp the plans. This will actually save the public money, as the unnecessary review by an architect will not be required.
That is not true. Only Architects and Engineers of record stamp projects. Interior designers only work in furnishing and decorations of a project. I have taken too many continuing education credits on this subject. They have zero to do with egress and public safety. This is nothing more than over regulation and expansion of useless government
Nothing good comes from liberal democrats, nothing.
He is representing out if staters. He doesn’t have Alaskan constituents. They are just wasting money right now. Gavel out. DONE.
Nullification through noncompliance is one option.
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Jury nullification is another.
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While the House can defund enforcement of Senate Bill 72 and Governor Dunleavy can veto it, we’re under no illusion that Lobbyist Parish will allow either course of action.
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The American Society of Interior Design of Alaska pays Lobbyist Parish $3000 a month to make sure defunding or veto does not happen.
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Alaska’s 2023 “Lobbyist Directory” shows a lot of special interests pay Lobbyist Parish a lot of money to represent them.
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They do so obviously because Lobbyist Parish is very good at persuading legislators to do what clients want them to do, which means productive Alaska residents -not- represented by lobbyists are once again on their own.
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Yet another unpleasant choice forced on productive citizens by another special interest group, no?
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Obey them or nullify them. What’s it to be?
Nullify. Always and forever, NULLIFY!
*Full disclosure, I am not an interior decorator, or designer. I am, however, a HUGE fan of nullification.
Why stop there? Make everybody have to have a Party license to be able to work.
In fact, why not just have the Party seize all private enterprise and declare themselves Dark Lords of All?
I remember when Alaska would have laughed this into the Cook Inlet. And probably tossed Claman in behind it.
Stop the credentialism. Most “experts” these days are blind.
I would much rather trust years of experience over a thin piece of paper.
Hire a lobbyist, have him/her find some legislators willing to whore for a few bucks, any you get legislation barring people from your industry. Pretty good business plan.
Just where’s the equality when lawyers can be near comatose and pass a dumbed down bar exam, but now a lawyer wants tests and restrictions on others?
In reality we’re the dumb ones if we don’t push the Governor to veto the new legislative pay schedule, that if collected in full, pays legislators over a thousand bucks a day.
Yet another license with undoubtedly a nice fee attached.gotta find ways to fund the spendaholic binge!!
Regulating us to Death is a awful way to go..
It’s ALL about control! Sen. Claman, you need to keep your hands off of things you don’t belong playing with.
Commie Claman.
Again.
Socialists have established unbreakable “Dominion” in Alaska. At this point it’s useless to fight back.
Stop him in his lefteist tracks or You will need a permit to get a permit??⏳✍? He just wants attention on our dime, do something to justify his own wasted time in office. He is following the europepeeon ??♂️ways…. This Alaska not Europe!!! Remember why we live here ??
Just Mandate Freedom !!! Do not grow anymore deep state government!!! That would be doing a great job for The people of this great State!!! Happy Easter ?
Unbelievable. Cheapening the value of those who actually have life and safety, and legal boundary licenses administrated by the AELS board. Interior design is an art not a science like STEM fields. What’s next? Requiring wedding planners to be licensed?
You obviously do not know the difference between an interior designer and interior decorator. One deals with life safety issues, just like architects. Some are even called interior architects. They deal with the same exiting, fire separation, and other public safety issues that architects do. They would like to be able to stamp drawings that affect those issues without having to hire an architect to review and stamp their work. If they are qualified via education experience, and examination (just like architects), they should be able to do so.
I for one am happy to see this new regulation. Alaskans/Anchoragites get what they deserve when they continue to elect wing-nuts like Claman. Voters won’t wake up until they reach the pain threshold for their crazy voting habits. Pain is good. Extreme pain is extremely good.
With some of the Names on the Board this will be a sure deal.
Guys like him give Politicians a bad name.
This article is full of misinformation. The bill will actually give the public another choice other than architects to do the design of interior spaces. The registered interior designers will be able to move walls, including fire walls, modify exiting, and resolve other issues where the public health, welfare, and safety is an issue. If an owner or tenant only needs to get new carpeting or paint colors, then an unregistered interior designer, interior decorator, or supplier can do the design work. The registered interior designers will have to get the requisite education, a few years’ experience, and pass a national exam, just like architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects must do. It will only apply to commercial spaces and residential buildings with more than five units, just like the rest of the design profession.
Please explain why owners need permission from the State of Alaska to hire anyone? Use small words so that I might understand how this isn’t anything other than yet another democrat power grab. Cheers –
Owners already need to hire architects, engineers, landscape architects, and land surveyors to design their buildings larger than a fourplex. They also have to submit those plans to the State Fire Marshal or municipal building department to verify that the construction shown in those drawings meets code. This gives an owner another option to complete the interior construction design. They will not have to hire an architect for a tenant revision or completion of the interiors of a spec office building, for example. Those words small enough for you?
In other words, you support another layer of costs an owner will have to pay when building. Since when is paying simply because a clod like Claman wants you to, ever added to health safety or design?
Currently, an interior designer needs to hire an architect to stamp the interior designers plans, if public life safety, health or welfare is affected. If this passes, a registered interior designer can stamp their own plans. Thus, removing a layer of costs, not adding one.
Wrong! Currently an architect is already hired as part of the project. If this ‘bill’ passes, there will be an architect AND a ‘registered interior designer’ hired in order to meet requirements.
An architect may not be involved, if it is just a tenant revision or the build out of a floor in a spec office building. That is until an exit door is moved or a wall is moved or there are exiting or fire separation issues. Then current laws require an architect to be involved. If the interior designer has the necessary education, experience, and passed a national examination, why should they have to get an architect involved?
BTW, I have been in the design profession for over 40 years. I am an engineer that has worked on projects with architects or interior designers or both.
First they came for the truck drivers, but I wasn’t a truck driver so I didn’t care that it was going to cost thousands of dollars to get a CDL. Now they are coming for the interior designers, but I’m not an interior designer and don’t see that I’ll ever need one. This is a cartel operation by powerful interests in Anchorage. Matt Claman should be ashamed, but instead, he’s a lawyer.
Little doubt, Senator Claman has some prized recommendations for people to sit on this interior design board, at taxpayer expense (most likely family or high profile donors to his campaign)? Maybe, the Alaska legislature would be better served with a bill requiring representatives and senators to take a refresher course in “Civics” and the Constitutional restrictions on lawmaking bodies?
Are you still wondering why no one trusts or respects lawmakers anymore?
The AELS Board is funded by licensing fees, not oil money. Maybe you need to take that refresher course or at least do some research before spouting off.
100% licensing fees? Really? Not a single tax dollar there?
Nope. Not a dime. Just licensing fees, examination fees, and application fees. See Alaska Statute 08.01.065 (c) and (f).
About 40% of the cost of construction in the MOA is regulatory compliance. The Mat Valley will be happy to have some growth. The last person leaving the Anchorage shithole needs to turn off the lights.
Democrats are and impedance to freedom. I am not sure exactly what they dislike about it so much, but clearly they find it distasteful.
Given the members on the committee, I would be surprised if this bill isn’t returned with a do pass recommendation.
As a licensed professional myself it is important for the public to distinguish between qualified curtain pickers and professionals that design functional interior spaces
You may be a licensed professional yourself, “frank”, but you clearly have never learned very much about proper English grammar.
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” … professionals WHO design fucntional interior spaces”.
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Or was it your intention to depersonify and objectify those professionals by referring to them using “that”?
Licensed in what? Content matters here.
Just get rid of all licenses as they are a barrier to living and working. Our founding fathers didn’t envision such restrictions on our liberties.
Sure, lets go back to the days when people died in buildings made of shoddy construction. Public safety be damned.
Because all those buildings collapsed due to screw ups by interior designers!
Excuse me. Unlicensed interior designers.
I think Claman who has time to put bills like this and not get a fiscal plan instead, all of the legislators need to gavel out what a waste of time and money. Dan
More garbage from Claman. He’s so dumb he still brags about the soft on crime bill that he authored and that had to be repealed.
Interior design and interior decorating are easily and often misused and misunderstood.
Interior design is the art and science of how people use and create functional spaces, whereas interior decorating is the adornment and furnishing of a space with decorative elements to achieve a particular look or style. In addition, interior designers can also style a room, whereas interior decorators can only decorate.
That being said, this whole thing sounds like another money grab!
Just another way to control.
Little fascist just love them some government control.
This is not a new law. This was floated during the 2021 legislative session as well. I find it interesting that there will be a hearing on the 12th and there still is not a published fiscal note to look at, there is no summary of why this bill is needed “to protect the public or consumer,” and no supporting or detracting documents to review before the hearing. There isn’t even a document on file from the Association who is lobbying for this law. This stinks of cronyism and government overreach. When was the last time anyone heard of someone they know being hurt by an Interior Designer? An interior designer is a small part of a much larger planning team. Leave certification and stamping of plans where it belongs, in the hands of architects, engineers and state fire marshal’s office. Stop writing bills for problems that don’t exist. The fact that only a hand-full of states require this registration speaks volumes about how unnecessary this law is.
Anyone notice the exemption clauses in the legislation letting the municipality and other government agencies or their subdivision off the hook when this new law might otherwise curtail their own projects? It reminds me of the time when a Valdez Building inspector told me to construct an exterior “fire-wall” out of paper-backed sheet rock between a brand new elevated fuel-oil tank, and an adjacent manufactured residence (Crappy ‘ol trailer home). She didn’t even blink when I asked what I should do after the first time we got a hard rainstorm and the “fire-wall” turn into a pile of chalk on the ground. “Good enough for thee, but not for me,” say all the bureaucrats and politicians.
Having a license does not make a craftsman. Some of the worst work I’ve ever seen was done by licensed professionals. All this does is add another layer to construction costs. And further rob us of freedom.
Matt Claman looks like he owns a van with no windows.
Right after he co sponsored Dunbar’s blight bill make fixing things up more expensive.. Great plan!!
Pubic safety isn’t impacted by interior decorators like other professions, This is silly.
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