All Roll Calls
Yes: 65 • No: 39
IdahoH 07902026 regular legislative sessionHouseWALLET
ARCHITECTS – Amends existing law to provide for certified interior designers to be able to sign and seal certain technical submissions and to make such submissions to state or local governmental entities.
Sponsored By: WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
ARCHITECTS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Certified designers can submit permit plans
Starting July 1, 2026, certified interior designers can sign and seal plans for nonstructural, nonseismic interior work and submit them for building permits. They can prepare drawings, specs, space plans, lighting, finishes, and reflected ceiling plans, and coordinate documents. They may create or change interior paths of egress if all codes are met and other limits still apply. Building officials must process these filings the same way as architect submissions. Nonstructural or nonseismic means parts that are not load‑bearing and do not aid seismic design, like normal‑braced ceilings and partitions.
Safety limits on designer permit work
Beginning July 1, 2026, certified interior designers cannot perform architecture or engineering. They may not change structural systems, building envelopes, windows, doors, or roofs, or move a building to a higher‑hazard use or a new construction type. They cannot design or alter major mechanical, plumbing, electrical, elevator, fire protection, or fire alarm systems. They also cannot design exit stairs or do work that materially affects life‑safety systems.
Certification and insurance rules for designers
Starting July 1, 2026, to sign, seal, and submit permit documents, a designer must hold state certification as a certified interior designer. Certification requires set education and experience and passing the Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, and you must keep that credential active. When filing permit documents, the designer must show proof of professional liability insurance to the building official. Designers who do not sign, seal, or submit permit documents do not need this certification. The board may make rules to run the certification program, but it cannot create licensure rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Lori Den Hartog
Republican • Senate
Dori Healey
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/25/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 28 • No: 7
House vote • 3/12/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 32
Actions Timeline
Reported Signed by Governor on March 27, 2026 Session Law Chapter 219 Effective: 07/01/2026
3/30/2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
3/27/2026HouseReported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
3/26/2026HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 28-7-0
3/25/2026HouseRead second time; filed for Third Reading
3/20/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
3/19/2026HouseReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
3/13/2026SenateRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 37-32-1
3/12/2026HouseRead second time; Filed for Third Reading
3/11/2026HouseReported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
3/10/2026HouseReported Printed and Referred to Business
3/2/2026HouseIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
2/27/2026House
Bill Text
Bill Text
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