05/14/2024 10:00 AM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 159                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to registered interior  designers and                                                                    
     interior  design;  establishing  requirements  for  the                                                                    
     practice  of registered  interior design;  renaming the                                                                    
     State Board of  Registration for Architects, Engineers,                                                                    
     and Land Surveyors the State  Board of Registration for                                                                    
     Design Professionals;  relating to  the State  Board of                                                                    
     Registration  for  Design  Professionals;  relating  to                                                                    
     liens  for labor  or materials  furnished; relating  to                                                                    
     the  procurement  of   interior  design  services;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:39:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster relayed  that the  committee had  heard the                                                                    
bill once  and had taken  public testimony and  reviewed the                                                                    
fiscal  notes.   He  noted  that  no   amendments  had  been                                                                    
received.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  MOVED to  REPORT CSHB 159(L&C)  out of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  OBJECTED. He understood  there was                                                                    
a lot  of passion surrounding  the bill and he  wished those                                                                    
involved could reach  a compromise. He noted  there had been                                                                    
concern raised by the former  chair of the AELS [Architects,                                                                    
Engineers,  and   Land  Surveyors]  Board  about   the  word                                                                    
"construction"  in  the bill.  He  remarked  that the  board                                                                    
failed to support the concept  of a practice license. He was                                                                    
troubled that the interior designers  with around 21 members                                                                    
would get  a seat and  the architects with over  600 members                                                                    
would  get  two  seats  [on   the  board].  He  likened  the                                                                    
situation  to giving  California 10  congressmembers instead                                                                    
of 55. He  did not believe the situation was  fair. He added                                                                    
that  there were  only two  states  that did  what the  bill                                                                    
aimed to do.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin shared  that she  had heard  from one                                                                    
constituent who was  very concerned about the  bill. She had                                                                    
received dozens  of emails from  individuals who  were ready                                                                    
to see the classification put in order.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Tomaszewski  highlighted   that  the  public                                                                    
testimony was  two to  one in favor  of the  legislation. He                                                                    
supported moving the bill from committee.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:42:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Cronk,    Galvin,    Coulombe,   Hannan,    Stapp,                                                                    
Tomaszewski, Ortiz, Foster                                                                                                      
OPPOSED: Josephson                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (8/1).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson  and Co-Chair  Edgmon were absent  from the                                                                    
vote.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There  being   NO  further  OBJECTION,  CSHB   159(L&C)  was                                                                    
REPORTED   out   of   committee    with   four   "do   pass"                                                                    
recommendations, three  "no recommendation" recommendations,                                                                    
two   "amend"  recommendations   and  with   one  previously                                                                    
published fiscal impact note: FN2 (CED).                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:44:14 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:44:48 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED