Dear Interior Designers of Virginia (and all allied colleagues),

As you may have heard, this year SB 1480, legislation that proposed the deregulation of Certified Interior Designers in Virginia, was defeated in committee. Thank you to everyone who rallied quickly and effectively to contact their legislators, provide testimony in opposition, and otherwise speak out against the bill!

Occupational regulation reform has become a top priority of Governor Youngkin’s Administration, with the goal of eliminating 25% of Virginia’s occupational regulations. Despite this year’s success in maintaining certification for qualified interior designers, we anticipate that a similar proposal to deregulate interior design will be reintroduced during the 2024 legislative session.

The lesson we learned from SB 1480 is that many policymakers within the Commonwealth do not understand the indispensable role that Certified Interior Designers play in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare, nor do they understand the economic benefits of maintaining certification for qualified practitioners in the Commonwealth.

Advocacy leaders from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), with support from the Council of Interior Design (CIDQ), are working together to organize, strategize, and prepare for the future of interior design in Virginia.

We now have the opportunity to explain these benefits and cultivate understanding among our government leaders and the larger interior design community in Virginia, as we prepare for the next legislative session. And we need your help to develop our grassroots advocacy and strengthen these education efforts.

Certified Interior Designers have an opportunity to protect – and shape – the future of our profession. Please join us for a webinar on Wednesday, April 19th at 8:30 am to discuss next steps and how you can get involved.

In the meantime, here are a few things you can do:

● If you’re not already, register to become a Certified Interior Designer in Virginia.

● Get involved! Send an email to a[email protected] to volunteer.

● Subscribe to advocacy alerts by texting “interior design” to 52886.

● Learn who your Virginia legislators are.

Respectfully,

IIDA Virginia | West Virginia Chapter

IIDA Mid-Atlantic Chapter

IIDA Headquarters

ASID Virginia

ASID Washington Metro

ASID Headquarters

Council for Interior Design Qualification