Alaska moves toward regulating interior designers, extending regulation of landscape architects

Interior designers who work on large commercial construction projects may soon be allowed to stamp design plans, similar to what architects are allowed to do.

On Wednesday, the Alaska Senate voted 18-2 to approve Senate Bill 54, which would create an interior design licensing process and modify the way the state regulates landscape architects.

If approved by the House and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, SB 54 would extend the term of the Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors and it would allow interior designers working on large, public-use projects to register with that board.

Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, is the bill’s prime sponsor and said that the change is intended to improve the safety of commercial buildings.

“It’s part of our continuing work to make Alaska open and ready for business,” he said on the Senate floor.

In his sponsor statement, Claman said that the licensing would allow interior designers to submit stamped plans to permitting agencies for approval, potentially eliminating the need for a more expensive engineering review.

This is the third time that Claman has sponsored a bill requiring the registration of interior designers. Previous bills did not pass either the House or Senate, but this version is narrower than prior versions, said Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer. 

She opposed those prior versions but was willing to vote in favor of this one.

The “no” votes came from Sen. Robert Myers, R-North Pole, and Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower, R-Wasilla.

Speaking after the vote, Myers said he is concerned about the way the number of regulated professions is growing.

“I’m very skeptical of creating more occupational licenses, requiring people to register more,” he said.

“We’ve got so many problems in the private sector already; I really hesitate putting in any more barriers to employment, any more barriers to business.”

The bill has been scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday in the House Labor and Commerce Committee.

Correction: Registration for interior designers on public-use buildings would be optional, not mandatory, under Senate Bill 54. An earlier version of this article was incorrect.