Interior Design affects every space we encounter. To explore how design legislation protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public and how it helps consumers make informed choices, please take a moment to watch this important message by clicking here.

Thanks to NCIDQ there is now an interactive video that will help to explain to your legislator, family and friends just what a Registered Interior Designer is trained to do.  It is a model floor plan that by zooming in and clicking on one of the numbers, will tell you the applicable building codes that an Interior Designer would use in that location of the building.  It is a great educational tool for students, the public, our legislators and even our families who do not understand what Interior Designers do!  Please take a moment to click here and share it with your friends and family!

IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter Legislative Update

OIDC NEWS FLASH

REGISTRATION FEE INCREASE

The Texas Association for Interior Designers speaks as a single unified voice on legislative issues which affect the business of interior design in Texas – www.supporttaid.org

The 82nd legislature in Texas is certainly looking like it will go down in our history books.

Yesterday, Representative Wayne Smith, (Baytown area) filed HB2543, Relating to the licensing and regulation of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying by the Texas Board of Professional Services, the deregulation of interior design, and the abolition of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, and the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveyors.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB2543

So it appears that we are a pawn in a tug of war between the engineers and the architects.  We had guessed this might be the case when Representative Bill Callegari, (Katy area) filed HB 2142, relating to abolishing the regulation of the practice of interior design, which we reported to you previously.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB2142

We had heard that the professional land surveyors wanted to join our board, TBAE, and that a bill would be filed by Representative Chalie Geren (Ft. Worth area) and indeed the bill was filed,

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB2480

Unfortunately, they did not see fit to raise our seats on the board to two, which is what we thought was going to happen.

The last date to file bills is March 21st so everyday can change with the filing of other bills.

As you can see we have our work cut out for us this year.

As I stated in the last email, your membership and dues dollars are needed desperately.  We have not been able to pay our lobbyist the last two years and with this political mine field, a good lobbyist is going to be essential.  Please recruit members and urge them to get involved.  I will be back in touch with updates as the bills progress and let you know what action is needed on your part.

To receive Weekly Updates during the Legislative Session you must become a member of TAID.  Members can request to be added to the service by emailing  Donna@supportTAID.org

For More Information Contact

Molly Adams VP of GRA - Oklahoma

Inda Hahn VP of GRA - Texas