Category: Advocacy

Senator Ashby has long been a trailblazer. She’s the first woman in over two decades to represent Sacramento District 8, in the California State Senate, and in her short time in office, she’s already become a standout leader. Earlier this year, she was named Chair of the Senate Business and Professions Committee, a role with pivotal influence in the path forward for our profession. From her time on the Sacramento City Council, where she secured millions to support community infrastructure, to her work championing programs for women and children experiencing homelessness, she’s consistently prioritized meaningful, tangible change. Her commitment to supporting working women is especially resonant for commercial interior designers as our profession is uniquely women-led compared to other design and construction professions. Among other important legislation, she authored SCR 29 in 2023, the resolution that declared Women in Construction Week to highlight women as a vital component of the construction industry.

On Monday, November 18th, representatives from both California IIDA chapters had the honor of presenting Senator Ashby with the award at her Sacramento office. This moment wasn’t just about recognition; it was about celebrating her leadership in advancing conversations around equity and opportunity. We especially thank Senator Ashby for her engagement during the 2024 California Architects Board sunset review where the practice barriers for interior designers were highlighted and discussed as a key issue.

Congratulations, Senator Ashby. The IIDA Northern and Southern California chapters look forward to continued collaboration with the Senator’s office. To learn more about Senator Ashby’s initiatives and legislative work, or to show your support, you can visit her official website.

Lobby Day: A Gathering of Passionate Voices

In total, IIDA met with nine legislative offices during the Lobby Day, making a grand total of thirty separate meetings with legislators and staff in the last two months alone. This high degree of engagement is only possible with the support of thought-leading firms and an active community of members.

The Hearing: From Discussions to Decisions

On March 11th IIDA represented commercial interior designers to the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for the California Architects Board Sunset Hearing. We appreciated the comments from Senator Roth, a long-time and esteemed member of the committee, and our colleagues at the American Institute of Architects California Chapter. This hearing was a very preliminary first step as we ramp up for more robust conversations so we are looking forward to collaborate more with stakeholders as this process progresses.

IIDA’s Northern and Southern California chapters’ advocacy efforts are moving ahead full steam this year to advance legislation that empowers commercial interior designers. In recent discussions surrounding these efforts, various points of view have emerged that illustrate the passionate engagement of professionals in the A&D industry. As part of our ongoing commitment to elevating our profession, it’s crucial to clarify the intentions of our efforts and dispel any misconceptions.

There are three main tenets of our objectives this year:

1. Modernization: Working with state lawmakers to develop a governance structure that better reflects the increasing complexity of our practice and acknowledges the interdisciplinary landscape of our project teams.
2. Consistency: Aligning commercial interior designers, and our statutory privileges, with the standardized regulatory environments of our peer professionals on the job site, in our offices, and across the nation.
3. Equity: Acknowledging that the commercial interior design field is led by women and queer professionals, who currently do not enjoy the same statutory privileges as the colleagues in related fields.

TODAY: Monday, March 11th is the California Architect’s Board Sunset Review hearing and, based on the board’s sunset report, we anticipate these longstanding, structural issues to be a significant discussion. This follows on the heels of months of meaningful engagement with stakeholders. Don’t worry – we’ll be there to advocate for you! We are privileged to have this opportunity to collaborate with our lawmakers and architectural colleagues to align with many other states that govern architecture and interior design professionals under equivalent or joint regulatory structures.

When pushing for progress, it’s natural, and expected, for concerns from others to arise. It’s important to emphasize that our proposed goals seek to support, not undermine, our diverse community of professionals. As IIDA members, please understand that there is NO effort being made to dismantle the existing Certified Interior Designer (CID) structure. Instead, we aim to carve out a modernized governance structure that grants consistent privileges specifically for commercial interior designers. This is not a new concept; 31 other jurisdictions (29 states + DC and Puerto Rico) have some form of state-governed regulation for our profession. Even as recently as this week, a title act granting the ability to stamp and seal for state-registered interior designers was signed into law in Nebraska. For a leader like California, this change is long overdue.

We invite you to follow along during this process and look forward to the ongoing constructive conversations with our industry colleagues; this is only the beginning.

The Northern and Southern California chapters of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) have proudly announced the awarding of the prestigious 2023 Legislator of the Year to State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman. This accolade is a testament to Eggman’s exemplary legislative leadership. As the third annual lawmaker to receive this award, Eggman joins a cohort of celebrated legislative leaders in California. Northern California President Elect Melissa Pesci, AIA, LEED AP, and VP of Advocacy Adam Newton, Assoc. IIDA, met with Senator Eggman in her Sacramento office to present the award.

Senator Eggman’s work spans several key areas important to California’s commercial interior designers, notably in improving health care and advocating for environmental sustainability. Her legislative priorities not only address urgent societal needs but also resonate with the values of the interior design community. Her efforts to enhance public health and make healthcare more accessible reflect IIDA’s commitment to inclusive and supportive environments. She’s also been a steadfast supporter of sustainable projects and initiatives, echoing IIDA’s focus on design excellence and environmental stewardship.

“This award not only honors Eggman’s substantial legislative achievements but is also an acknowledgement of the similarities in her social work background, to the occupational barriers commercial interior designers experience everyday. Eggman’s legislative efforts reflect an understanding of how essential it is to recognize the value and expertise required by these women-lead professions,” noted Adam Newton, VP Advocacy IIDA Northern California. The IIDA Northern and Southern California chapters look forward to continued collaboration with Senator Eggman’s office. To learn more about Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman’s initiatives and legislative work, or to show your support, you can visit her official website.