Bill > H0616

This bill amends existing Idaho law to allow certified interior designers to sign and seal certain technical submissions, which are documents like drawings and specifications, and submit them to state or local government entities for permits related to interior alteration or construction projects. This exemption is specifically for work that does not involve the public health or safety and excludes modifications to a building's exterior, structural elements, major systems like mechanical or electrical, or changes that increase a building's hazard level. To qualify, a certified interior designer must hold an active certification from the board, which requires passing a qualification exam and maintaining active certification with a recognized organization, and they must carry professional liability insurance. The bill defines "certified interior designer" as someone who consults, designs, and plans for nonstructural or nonseismic interior construction and alterations, and "nonstructural or nonseismic" as elements that are not load-bearing, do not affect seismic design, and do not require structural calculations. The bill also states that local governments must process these filings from certified interior designers in the same way they would for architects, and it includes an emergency clause to make the act effective on July 1, 2026.

Business and Industry

Business Committee (House)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0616/