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Interior designers urge Board to oppose bill that would remove them from state licensing board
Summary
Registered interior designers and allied professionals told the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners that Senate Bill 2224 (part of the governor's package) would deregulate the profession, weaken public-safety oversight and harm education and small businesses. The board said members cannot lobby and suggested parties pursue legislative channels.
Registered interior designers and allied groups urged the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners on Feb. 5 to oppose Senate Bill 2224, part of the governor's package, which would remove interior-design registration and put land surveyors on the board.
At a packed meeting and during two public-comment periods, speakers argued that the change would be far more than an administrative streamlining. "Removing regulation does not simplify the design process. It removes qualified oversight and increases the risk of costly mistakes and safety failures," said Allie Bierman, IIDA chapter president and a registered interior designer, describing responsibilities such as egress planning, accessibility compliance and occupancy determinations.
Board member Melanie Doss read a prepared statement explaining that licensure and registrant oversight exist to "protect the public health, safety, and welfare" and to…
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