Photo Credit: International Design Source Showroom, Sarasota

On July 1, 2020, a new Florida State Interior Design Registry took effect to govern regulated interior designers in the state of Florida. ASID and IIDA (International Interior Design Association) worked jointly on ensuring that the practice of interior design largely stayed intact while the industry did support streamlined and more efficient regulation of the profession.

Since his election in 2018, Governor Ron DeSantis has made deregulation of various professions and occupations a priority of his administration and has worked closely with legislative leaders to support and pass deregulation legislation. Faced with near-certain full-scale deregulation, the professional associations worked with members, chapters, legislators, legislative consultants, and trade groups to successfully find an equitable solution that would protect the core tenets of interior design practice rights in Florida for commercial projects including the items highlighted on the left.

Since the interior design licensing law’s passage in 1994, the Act has been targeted for elimination several times, coming close to complete deregulation more than once. In the past two years, bills were introduced to eliminate ALL licensure, regulation, and practice rights of interior designers. The newly signage law streamlines the process for becoming a Florida Registered Interior Designer, reduces the fees, and eliminates the need of a separate business license. New applicants require only proof of passage of the NCIDQ Exam when applying with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, making registration less burdensome for those entering the profes- sion and moving to Florida from out of State. ASID is in support of the new regulations and feels that it is a win for practitioners who engage in commercial work and Governor DeSantis.

Photo Credit: International Design Source Showroom, Sarasota

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