June 4, 2026 — Idaho has become the 30th state and 32nd U.S. jurisdiction to enact reasonable regulation of the interior design profession, according to an announcement from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). House Bill 790 (HB 790) was passed by the Idaho Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Brad Little on March 30, 2026.
The legislation establishes a voluntary registry for qualified interior designers, allowing them to independently practice within a defined scope of work. It also creates a title act for certified interior designers, granting qualified professionals the ability to stamp and seal construction documents for permitting.
Title holders will be regulated by the Idaho Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, with input from the public, the Legislature and interior design practitioners.
Idaho’s passage of HB 790 reflects a growing national recognition of interior designers as essential contributors to the health, safety and welfare of the spaces we inhabit. This legislation empowers qualified professionals to fully apply their expertise while advancing safer, more accessible and higher-performing communities. By enabling designers to practice to the full extent of their education and training, Idaho is advancing a more resilient and thoughtfully designed built environment.
Khoi Vo, chief executive officer of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
HB 790 makes Idaho the latest state to establish or modernize legislation recognizing the qualifications and contributions of interior designers. Recent efforts include Utah in 2025; Nebraska and Oklahoma in 2024; Iowa in 2023; Illinois and Wisconsin in 2022; and North Carolina in 2021. These efforts reflect sustained, multiyear advocacy led by local chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), with support from the Consortium for Interior Design, a collaborative initiative of ASID, IIDA and the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). The organizations are committed to advancing legal recognition and reasonable regulation of the interior design profession.
Idaho’s action reflects a broader national trend to formally recognize interior designers as key contributors to the built environment, says ASID. The law acknowledges the profession’s expertise in life-safety systems, accessibility standards and building codes, including solutions that support Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and fire safety.
The text of Idaho’s HB 790 is available here.
