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Provide Feedback on Proposed Regulation of Commercial Interior Design

AIA Washington Council Requests Your Feedback

In 2024, AIAWA was invited to help shape a bill regulating commercial interior design in Washington, the Registered Commercial Interior Designer (RCID) designation, scope and authority. In early 2025, a Joint Taskforce was formed between the Consortium for Interior Design-Washington and AIA members to collaborate in exploring 2026 legislation for the regulation of commercial interior designers in Washington state.

With a commitment to transparency and inclusion, AIAWA assembled a group of members representing all local chapters and the full spectrum of member perspectives (from strong support to strong opposition). Throughout this process, AIA members consistently focused on protection of public health, safety and welfare and professional accountability.

Over the past 18 months, the Joint Taskforce has achieved the following:
  • Convened 8 working sessions with the full Joint Taskforce;
  • Hosted 2 virtual town halls open to all AIA and IIDA members, including one specifically for small firms;
  • Consulted with NCARB, AIA National, and the Interorganizational Committee on Regulation (ICOR); and
  • Reviewed 4 versions of the proposed 2026 bill.
In February 2026 the Consortium submitted their final version, HB 2721, to the legislature but it did not advance.

We encourage you to read the bill carefully to understand what it allows and what it restricts. HB 2721 bill language can be found : HB 2721

As explained by the Consortium, "HB 2721 establishes a certificate of registration and requires registration for individuals who choose to practice within the defined Registered Commercial Interior Design scope and use the associated title and stamp/seal authority. Within that defined scope, the bill includes enforcement provisions that make unregistered practice {of commercial interior design} unlawful."

Work will continue on proposed 2027 legislation, and AIAWA needs to hear from you to formulate our legislative position and develop future testimony. AIA Washington Council's position on this legislation will be determined by our Board of Directors, who represent the members of their local chapters. If a clear consensus emerges from member input, the Board will adopt that position (support, neutral, oppose). If consensus cannot be reached, AIA Washington Council will remain neutral.

Thank you for participating in advocacy on this important issue. Both the AIAWA Council Board members and the Board’s Joint Taskforce representatives are eager to hear from you.

Thank you-
2026 AIAWA Board of Directors
1.Full Name(Required.)
2.AIA number.(Required.)
3.Select which AIA local chapter you are a member of:(Required.)
4.HB 2721 establishes a practice act for commercial interior design, designating those who are registered as Registered Commercial Interior Designers.

After reviewing HB 2721, which answer best describes your position on the bill?
5.The details are important. Please share more about your answer above.
6.The previous question asked for your overall position. We're now interested in what specifically drove that position so we know which provisions matter most to you, even if you support or oppose the bill as a whole. Which components of the current bill do you support/oppose/remain neutral on?
Support
Oppose
Neutral
Need more information
Governance & Board Structure — The State Board for Architects is expanded from seven to nine members to include RCID representation
Architect Exemptions & Privileges — Architects may perform RCID scope work without registration but must register before using the RCID title.
Seal & Stamp Authority — RCIDs are granted independent authority to seal and file technical submissions directly with public authorities
Registration & Credentialing Requirements — RCID registration requires passing the NCIDQ exam, a Washington state law review exam, and ongoing continuing education
Practice Restrictions & Enforcement — Unregistered practice of RCID scope work is prohibited and subject to enforcement penalties
Impact on Current Practice — The bill defines regulation on how commercial interior design work in all building types and occupancy categories must be performed and by whom going forward.
Business Entity Requirements — All business entities offering RCID services must register with the board and pay certification and renewal fees
7.Tell us more about your answer(s) above.
8.Now we'd like you to weigh in on specific authority and scope items individually. It's common to support a bill overall but disagree with part(s) of it, or vice versa so your answers here don't need to match your answer in Question 4. Both are useful to us.

HB 2721 establishes a certificate of registration and requires registration for individuals who choose to practice within the defined RCID scope and use the associated title and stamp/seal authority. For permit-required commercial interior construction and alteration projects, HB 2721 limits the following areas of practice to RCIDs; architects are already licensed to provide these services. Please indicate your position on each area of practice below:
Support
Oppose
Neutral
Need More Information
Programming, space planning, and conceptual design
Preparation of construction documents and technical submissions
Construction and contract administration
Egress calculations including occupant load and exit design
Life safety and fire protection compliance
Coordination with MEP systems at the interior nonstructural level, excluding engineering of those systems
Seismic anchorage documentation of interior nonstructural elements
Material selection including means of egress systems
Accessibility and code conforming environment design
Coordination with structural engineers to confirm compatibility of interior nonstructural work, excluding structural engineering and calculations
Design of interior nonstructural construction elements including partitions, ceilings, millwork, casework, doors, and hardware for permitted commercial projects
Documentation and referencing of building systems outside the RCID scope — such as mechanical, electrical, and structural systems — where those systems affect interior nonstructural work and code compliance
Filing sealed technical submissions directly with public authorities
9.Please share anything else you would like the board to know about your position on this bill.
10.Does your current practice include commercial interior design services?
11.If we have questions regarding your comments, may we contact you? If so, please provide your email address.
12.Confidentiality