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Mixed testimony on Oregon commercial interior-designer registry; architects urge caution pending amendments
Summary
House Bill 2,141 would create a state registry for commercial interior designers and expand the Board of Architect Examiners; supporters said it clarifies permitting and accountability while architects urged clearer scope and administrative arrangements.
House Bill 2,141, at a March 25 public hearing, would create a program to register commercial interior designers through the State Board of Architect Examiners, add three commercial interior designer seats and one public member to the board, and specify how commercial interior designers may submit work to municipalities. Committee staff said the measure would become operative July 1, 2026, and take effect on the 91st day after adjournment sine die; an amended draft was reported as forthcoming.
Roberta Pennington, NCIDQ-certified commercial interior designer and vice president of advocacy for IIDA Oregon, said the bill fills a gap in Oregon law that creates inconsistent permitting outcomes across jurisdictions and that a voluntary registry with education, experience and examination criteria would protect the public while helping small businesses. Peter Harrison, president of IIDA Oregon, said the amendment under development reflects robust, multi-stakeholder discussions and urged committee support, citing workforce and economic benefits.
Leanne Hensley, an Oregon-based commercial interior designer appearing remotely, also supported the bill and recounted out-of-state licensure experience; her testimony included extensive personal and professional history that the chair asked her to keep pertinent to the bill.
Representing the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Oregon, Cindy Robert said AIA Oregon has been negotiating amendments with interior-design proponents and supports the concept in principle but urged clearer statutory definitions of commercial interior-design activities, an administrative home that is sustainable and appropriate, and professional-liability and accountability measures. Heather Wilson, CEO of AIA Oregon and former CEO of AIA Utah, said architects share the goal of clear professional standards but objected to the published draft as ambiguous on scope and board composition; she urged collaboration and asked the committee to review the forthcoming amendments before further action.
No committee action occurred during the hearing; proponents requested consideration of the revised draft (HB 2,141 dash-1) being prepared by legislative counsel.
