S.B. 286 Interior Designer Amendments

What this bill does

The bill would update Utah's commercial interior designer certification law to reference the International Building Code and remove two statutory limits, including occupancy restrictions, on that work. It would not give interior designers structural authority or change architect or engineer licensing laws.

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Every vote

• 8 yes, 0 noSenate Business and Labor Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 18, 2026Who voted how
• 22 yes, 0 no, 7 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 26, 2026Who voted how
• 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 27, 2026Who voted how
• 9 yes, 4 no, 3 absentHouse Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 3, 2026Who voted how
• 39 yes, 28 no, 8 absentFinal House vote · Mar 6, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 18, 2026 Senate Business and Labor Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (19 turns)

  1. Committee chair46:39

     You were first on the agenda. Senate Bill 2 86, interior Design Amendments.

  2. Sen. Luz Escamilla46:46

     Good morning, Mr. Chair and Committee. Thank you. Um, it's a little bit chaotic out there outside. Um, and SB 2 86 Interior Designer Amendments is a, basically removes some statutory limitations, uh, related to occupancy restrictions. And it adopts the International building code. It's an update, um, to, you know, this international, uh, interior designer, um, cons, um, certification that we put in place in 2017. So, um, 10 years ago. And, you know, things have evolved. So we're trying to just keep it more clean and, um, we've, this is a, a work of a lot of hours in, in collaboration really with the architects as they're, you know, we wanna make sure we keep the scope of practice clean and clear and safe. Uh, something that I learned with, you know, spending some time with the architects is just how critical it is, uh, for structurally speaking that we are safe on, um, when it comes to this type of work. The commercial interior designers are a very limited number of professionals. They have to have a, a very broad, uh, piece of education, a four year degree plus a, a national certification. So in this case, we're just, um, cleaning some of that language to make sure that it's adopted the International building code. It doesn't grant any structural authority or alter any archite or engineering licensure stat statutes. And, and that's, uh, basically what we did. If it's okay with you, Mr. Chair, I do have, um, uh, someone with me that will be presenting if that's appropriate.

  3. Committee chair48:29

     Sure. Go ahead. Just please identify who you are and who you represent.

  4. Amy Coombs, Utah Interior Design Consortium48:33

     Yep. Hi, my name is Amy Coombs. I'm the lobbyist for the Utah Interior Design, um, consortium. So that's a group of three individual, um, interior design membership organizations in Utah. Um, and so SB 2 86 is really, like we've said before, it's modernizing and, um, aligning our current statute with, um, the current code. It updates it and, um, it clarifies that certified commercial interior designers remain limited to the non-structural, non-seismic, non load bearing interior elements. Um, second, it removes the outdated statutory occupies lists and defers to the adopted IBC occupancy classifications. And third, it preserves architect and engineer triggers. Um, if the IBC requires a license design professional, um, that requirement remains intact. So this bill does not change any structural authority. It does not amend architecture licensure, it does not weaken safety. It aligns statute with the code that Utah already enforces. And so we'd respectfully offer a favorable recommendation if that's what you choose. Thanks. That will conclude our presentation, Mr. Chair. Okay,

  5. Committee chair49:55

     Thank you. We'll bring this, uh, back to the committee for further questions.

  6. Unknown speaker50:00speaker not certain

     I have one. So on the, the interior design, I assume this, this is already a licensure within Doppel or, yes.

  7. Amy Coombs, Utah Interior Design Consortium50:07speaker not certain

     Yes, there's a certification within DOPPEL that we passed in 2017.

  8. Unknown speaker50:11speaker not certain

     Okay. This is just doing some cleanup on that.

  9. Committee chair50:14

     Okay. Thank you. Other questions from the committee? Anyone online? Okay. Anyone in the public that'd like to testify on this? Bill, we have one, two. Yeah, please come forward.

  10. Committee chair50:26

      If you had, would just, uh, give us your name, uh, who you represent, if anyone, and then make sure that you sign the log as you leave Her and sign This and give her your testimony and sign that after if you want. Okay.

  11. Zachary Jensen, Consortium for Interior Design50:39

      Yeah, no problem. Um, my name is Zachary Jensen. I am one of the certified commercial interior designers here in Utah. Um, I'm here today, today to share my support for SV 2 86 Interior Design Amendments. Uh, right now, the current language of the statute includes some outdated limits that don't match how modern buildings are designed today. Um, for example, on line 77 and 78 of the current statute, it places a eight foot limit on the overall, um, interior partition, um, or partial height partition, which is far below typical wall heights for commercial buildings today. This limiting language, um, creates extra steps and costs for our clients and has, um, little impact on improved safety. Interior designers that have undergone the appropriate education testing and certification outlined in the current statute are qualified to handle these very common non-structural wall conditions when designing an interior bailout. We are also trained to know when the work is out of our scope and when to team up with an architect or engineering as we've, um, prior mentioned to ensure that all elements of a building project are properly designed and engineered to the, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public, um, that will be using the spaces we design. SB 2 86 is a simple, helpful update. It cleans up old definitions and allows us to use our professional training to, to help profess to help Utah businesses and organizations grow by providing a wider range of design services for their interior construction projects. Um, it's a common sense change that helps us do our jobs better while keeping the projects on track and our clients moving forward. So please vote yes on SB 2 86.

  12. Committee chair52:27

      Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. I saw, I saw one with hand two. Okay. I'd appreciate if you'd your comments as brief as possible.

  13. Steve Hiatt, American Institute of Architects52:38

      Mr. Chair Committee. Steve Hyatt speaking on behalf of the American Institute of Architects. Just wanna express our appreciation to the good senator reaching out to us earlier, early in the process. And, and we've always had a great collaborative relationship with Senator Escamilla, so we appreciate, are able to come to something that, uh, is workable for a i a Thank you. Thank

  14. Committee chair52:56

      You. Thanks. One more. We'll take one more. Is there anyone on line? Okay. Well, this, you'll be our last, uh, public comment,

  15. Don Russell, Taylorsville Planning Commission53:08

      Uh, chair and members of the committee. My name is Don Russell. I currently serve as a planning commissioner for Taylorsville City, and previously served as chair of that, uh, commission from a municipal planning and land use perspective. SB 2 86 provides clarity, not expansion. The amendments align statutory language with the current building code realities and professional practice standards. That clarity is helpful for cities such as US planning commissioners care deeply about predictable processes, clean lines of authority, and avoiding unnecessary regulatory complexity. SB 2 86 accomplishes that it does not expand Structural authority does not shift plan, review responsibility away from building officials and does not introduce new layers of municipal oversight. Importantly, this bill does not create additional regulatory burden for cities. It does not require new enforcement mechanisms, new staffing, or new compliance obligations at the local level. Instead, it clarifies professional scope within the existing framework, already administered by doppel and local building departments. From a planning standpoint, clarity reduces friction, reduces delays, and improves coordination between applicants designers and city staff that benefits small businesses, property owners, and municipalities alike. For these reasons, I respectfully support SB 2 86 and encourage a favorable vote. Thank you.

  16. Committee chair54:52

      Thank you. Okay, we'll close public, uh, comment and come back to the committee for further deliberation or action. Senator Ipson.

  17. Sen. Don L. Ipson55:00

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. I make a motion that Senate Bill 2 86 pass the floor of the Senate.

  18. Committee chair55:07

      Thank you. The motion before us is favor. We recommend Senate Bill 2 86 Interior design amendments. Discussion to that motion. Seeing none will place the motion. All in favor? Well, let's go back to Senator Ipson. Wait summation Mr. Chairman? Okay, Senator, sorry about that. We'll place the motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Say nay. Let's see how many we got Three. So we rule that pass unanimously. Eight to zero.

  19. Sen. Don L. Ipson55:34

      Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee. Okay.

• Feb 26, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (10 turns)

  1. Unknown speaker36:45speaker not certain

     for caring for all the interior designers out there.

  2. Sen. Luz Escamilla36:48

     Yeah, and this is a, just a cleanup bill, Mr. Um, president that we work very closely between the commercial interior designers that are certified in the state and our architects, which work very closely to make sure we keep everyone happy and within their scope of practice. What this bill does is removes basically two statutory limitations so we can be aligned with international building code. That's all the bill does. And with that, I'm open for any questions. Mr. President,

  3. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)37:18speaker not certain

     Thank you for the presentation. Uh, see no questions on the interior design bill. So I'll go back to you. First information motion

  4. Unknown speaker37:28speaker not certain

     Shouldn't call the, the question Mr.

  5. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)37:29speaker not certain

     President. Okay. The question is, shall Senate bill 2 86 be read A third time roll call vote.

  6. Senate clerk37:35

     Senator Spery Aye. Lewin Brammer bus Culmore es Camilla Aye. Fillmore Grover Harper Hankins Ipson Johnson Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musman Mussman Owens pitcher Plum Rebi Sandal Aye. Stevenson Aye. Stratton Vickers plum Aye. Weiler Aye. Wilson. Aye. Winterton Johnson Aye. President Adams Aye. Senate Bill 2 86,

  7. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)38:33speaker not certain

     having received 22 yay votes, zero nay votes. Seven being absent shall be read a third time. Senator Stevenson.

  8. Sen. Jerry W Stevenson38:43

     Thank you Mr. President. Uh, motion to encircle, uh, Senate bill 2 78. Uh, point of the mountain land use authority modifications. Thank You. The, the motion is to encircle Senate bill 2 78.

  9. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)38:56speaker not certain

     All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Or The motion passes? The bill is uncircled.

  10. Sen. Jerry W Stevenson39:02

      Thank you Mr. President. I believe there is a, uh, uh, amendment, uh, on the, or on your on line for the, uh, for this amendment. One. Uh, I would like to place that in my name and, uh, would seek approval. What it does is it just, it just puts a Sunset date on the, on the points dealings with Draper City Senator. I think I have, uh, looking, I think there is a substitute online. I'm just double checking here. Gimme one second. There may be another substitute that it's a substitute bill. I think that it

• Feb 27, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (10 turns)

  1. Sen. Luz Escamilla20:06

     Thank you Mr. President, this is your favorite bill. Yes. And excited to just make a, um, a minor change to put us up to code with the IBC. Um, just wanna make sure I got it correctly. Gimme a minute. But, um, again, we've had this certification for commercial interior designers. This is just amending the code to remove two statutory limitations and aligning the language with the new adopted international building code. That's what the bill does and this is also with consultation of the architects where their scope of practices work very closely. We always work with them to make sure they're okay with this language and it was a compromise. Bill. With that, I'm open for questions. Mr. President?

  2. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)20:55

     Thank you Senator Escamilla, uh, for the presentation. Do we have discussion to the bill? Say no discussion. I'm going to go to you for a motion

  3. Unknown speaker21:05speaker not certain

     Call the question, Mr. President.

  4. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)21:07

     The question is, shall Senate bill two eighty six pass Roll call vote.

  5. Unknown speaker21:10speaker not certain

     Senator Spry Bwin Brammer Bus Colmore Escamia Aye. Fillmore Grover Harper Aye. Kinins Ipson Johnson k Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musselman Owens Pitcher Aye. Lum Rebe Aye. Sandal Stevenson Stratton Aye. Bickers Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Bickers Aye.

  6. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)22:04

     Bill, President Adams Senate Bill 2 86 Having received 26 J votes, zero nay votes, three being absent passes Senate will be sent to the house for further consideration.

  7. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)22:25

     First substitute Senate bill 2 78. First Substitute Senate bill 2 78 point of the Mountain State Land authority modifications. Senator Stevenson. Senator Stevenson. Thank you

  8. Sen. Jerry W Stevenson22:37

     Mr. President ProAm. We are waiting on a, a very small amendment and I would motion to circle All in favor of the motion to circle, say aye.

  9. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)22:45

     Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passes. The bill is circled first substitute Senate Bill 2 95. First substitute Senate Bill 2 95, intellectual diversity in education and government. Senator Johnson.

  10. Sen. John D. Johnson22:58

      Senator Johnson. We, we talked quite a bit about this the other day,

• Mar 3, 2026 House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (37 turns)

  1. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:27:18

     to agenda item number two, SB 2 86, interior Designer Amendments. Senator Escamilla.

  2. Sen. Luz Escamilla1:27:27

     Thanks. Oh, thank you. Very friendly. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman Committee. Um, SB 2 86. It's a very simple bill, and it has to do with a volunteer certification of, of commercial interior designers. So I, I know the, the title may be, uh, not very clear on what we're trying to address here, but what we're doing in this bill is basically aligning Utah code of the commercial interior designer certification to adopt the international building code. Things change in our international building code, and this is what the bill does. Um, it takes a minute to work not only with the commercial interior designers, which Amy's here representing them, but also we work very closely with the architects. This two, um, scope of practice work is very, um, critical that we keep our public health in mind. And the architects always help us navigate this. So I know they're here as well if we need them. But, um, Mr. Chair, if it's okay, I'll just pass the minute to the commercial interior designers as part of my presentation, if that's okay with

  3. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:28:37

     You. Yes, go for it.

  4. Amy Coombs, Utah Design Consortium1:28:39

     Hi, thanks for having me here. Again, my name is Amy Coombs. I'm representing the Utah Design, um, consortium. So it's a group of several different Utah chapters that are local, um, of design groups. And this bill really is just a, a cleanup, I promise. It's just a cleanup bill. Um, it aligns us with Utah statutes as a way like to also make sure that we are in alignment with the building code. Importantly, it's not changing anything structural. It does not authorize structural engineering. It does not expand into architectural authority. It does not remove oversight from building officials. But what it does is just provide clarity, um, from a regulatory standpoint. It reduces ambiguity from an economic standpoint. It increases efficiency and tenant improvement projects, reduces unnecessary duplication of documentation and allows projects to move forward through plan review without artificial statutory bottlenecks. That concludes our presentation. Mr. Chair, I'm open for questions.

  5. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:29:48

     Okay. Thank, thank you. Uh, representative, uh, go to Representative Peterson.

  6. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson1:29:55

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm trying to see how this isn't fundamentally changing the scope of practice for interior designers in lines 41 through 48. Currently, it looks like the scope of practice can only be done in a B or an M occupancy, and you're eliminating that, allowing them to design hospitals, prisons, uh, as long as it doesn't involve structural or seismic interior or exterior load bearing walls. This fundamentally, the way I read this, changes what an interior designer can do. If you could speak to that.

  7. Amy Coombs, Utah Design Consortium1:30:43

     Yeah. So, um, essentially the scope remains the same. The scope is not being changed at all. It's it's non-structural seismic with the corn shell in place, mechanical engineering and plumbing. So that is not changing. The IBC is what regulates risk, and that is also the notch changing. And so essentially the designers were still going through the same process as architects or engineers for their scope of work into, um, like the plan review office. And they are the ones that then will, will check that. So none of that authority has changed. Um, they've always been able to do non-structural, non-seismic work, um, according to IBC. So that's always been the same.

  8. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson1:31:32

     So then help me understand, I'm gonna read the way it was and the way it is. Um, practice of commercial interior designer design only includes the preparation of a plan or specification or the supervision of new construction alteration or repair of a building to be used for the following occupancy groups as described in the International Building Code Occupancy Group B and occupancy Group M period. Now it says for any occupancy classification in the international building code, if the work is limited to non-structural nons seismic non load bearing interior elements in accordance with this section, how does that not fundamentally change what you can and can't do?

  9. Amy Coombs, Utah Design Consortium1:32:19

     If I can, Mr. Chair. Thank you. So the, the scope of practice doesn't change is if we're talking about the occupancy limitations, which is different. So they don't do anything more than they're already doing in their scope of practice because of the international building code evolving. We're just aligning everything to that international building code and removing occupancy. But what they do with regards to, you know, making sure there's non instructional Nazis make non load bearing interior work that stays the same. We're not changing what they can do. We're just saying now we're following all international building code. And that just keeps us up to date, uh, with time as it changes because with the limitation we have with BNM, which again, we worked this in 2017 with the, with the architects. 'cause remember they, there's a lot of working together between architects and commercial interior designers on how they, they work on this, um, plans. And now we're saying we're just now gonna align everything with international building code. So no longer is occupancies really a matter because they're still very limited on their scope of practice, which is based on their training of four years of college education national certification. This is a very limited group of professionals. Um, these are commercial interior designers, and again, they go and get a bachelor's degree, uh, in order to do this. And then they work in collaboration with the architects, which is why I, I mean they are here as well. They're representatives of how we work with them to keep in within that scope of practice.

  10. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson1:33:59

      If I could just follow up with that, um, I still struggle that we're not, you, you're not changing what you do, but you're changing on what occupancy classifications you can do it on. Correct. Which is a fundamental change. The other thing that I have a problem with is line line 57 and 58, it says, when a licensed architect or a licensed engineer is required in accordance with the building code International building code, the international building code never requires an architect or an architecture and engineer. That's our state licensing. So that seems like that's problematic as well. Um, so I feel like that might be an issue.

  11. Amy Coombs, Utah Design Consortium1:34:36

      Um, our Title 58, uh, require is what regulates architecture and engineering and when that's required, not the building code. Correct. DOPEL is also an authority and that authority isn't changed. So, so everything that remains with like the entire bill. Right? So it is, um, the authority for like, for occupational licensing is still under doppel as well. So it's not only talking about, um, using IBC, right? Because that mitigates the risk or actually regulates the risk. It's also, um, doppel,

  12. Amy Coombs, Utah Design Consortium1:35:16

      Mr. Chairman, if I could add to that, um, comment and it was a comment. Um, so a licensed architect and a certified commercial interior designer still have to get approval through the regular process, the removal of those occupancies as we took years, and I don't remember, I, I'm seeing faces and I think some of you were here through this process of this bill, I think, um, at least five of you guys were here because it was, um, and I'm gonna remember his num name in a again, but we were trying to get this balance of the safety piece and the architects, you know, it took like three sessions to get us to this place. What we know now is on the occupancies that when you are actually going through your regular process, that maybe, um, the good representatives more familiar in terms of getting your permits and everything. All of that has to do with the licensure. You're right. Some of them are double licensure, meaning our state regulates that piece. The, um, the international building code is kinda like an international, uh, we all agree on best practices. So the removal of the occupancies is because within the scope of practice, it's already regulated. They feel like they already have to go through the same process of permitting that it's someone is already overseeing that component. So I am, all of them have to be, are putting their entire license within DOPA at risk. I mean, they all have to follow scope of practice. And the international building con continues to be what we use as a reference. But you're a hundred percent correct. We, as a state limit the scope of practice of everyone that is either certified or licensed. And in this case they are certified, but they are still needing to go through all the permitting and oversight of everyone in your city and wherever. So I the fundamentally changing, um, I, I mean I, I don't necessarily agree, but I can see the removal of occupancies were now, if those occupancies are meeting the height of the wall, you know, and the structures, they all have to, so when we think about like a stadium, I don't know about a stadium, I mean like, because the heights and the ways they probably would not even be allowed to in within their scope of practice. Does that make sense? I'm trying to make sure that there was no more than with norm not changing that scope of practice, just where they can be doing the work that will go through a permitting process.

  13. Unknown speaker1:37:55speaker not certain

      Can I add one more thing real quick? So Dole regulates the licensure and professional conduct and then, um, the plans review or IBC um, conducts the plan review and the inspection. So the plans reviewers are the ones that are, that are looking at the safety and risk in making sure that there's nothing that is going in their plans that's going to violate IBC. And that's the same process for every, every license, um, design professional.

  14. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:38:25

      Okay. Thank, thank you. Uh, all right. We're just a reminder we have 10, nine minutes until we have to be outta here. So go ahead. Go ahead, Tom. I have

  15. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson1:38:32

      Just one more follow up and then I'll be done. Where is a i a on this bill?

  16. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:38:44

      Uh, uh, we, we, uh, we'll get to that in public comment. Okay. Um, see, no more lights on here.

  17. Unknown speaker1:38:55speaker not certain

      I just had a question. Do you need a, this is all new to me. The, the, um, interior designer thing. Do you need a license to be an interior Designer? Commercial commercial You need that is It's certified. Okay. Yes. In the state of Utah. Yes. What do, what do you guys do that makes it that you need a license? Do you wanna Mm-hmm. I, I just, Yeah, know. It's a great question. I think to clarify, because this is not what you usually people think about interior designers. So do you, I'm just wondering what if we, what, why we need a license to be an interior designer. It's, it's a whole Different, a certification, a voluntarily certification. Is it, is it a safety thing Or is it it is a safety thing.

  18. Amy Coombs, Utah Design Consortium1:39:36speaker not certain

      So let me say, so it's a certification that is voluntarily, if you want your signature re remember, I think it's important to acknowledge and, and the architects can answer. Um, if, if you want to hear from them in the, the how they work in com, collaboration with specific trained interior designers, commercial interior designers that have to go to school and get a four year degree, right. It's your property. There's a lot of intellectual property about this conversation that we are missing. These are people's work, right? But without a certification, as they're entering into the process of permitting and all of, all of that process, they actually have a number that they then have to, you know, that's their value. Okay. Got it. Got it. So I, I guess try to get to that because it's, it is more than what we usually think of interior designers as a decoration component or walls and painting and colors. This is actually doing more work within the actual, um, you know, how A-A-A-A-A room or, you know, is, is seen and your, um, the work that you're doing. Sure. So there, there, this actually originated from, um, working commercial spaces above 3000 square feet. And so that's actually from the Architectural Practice Act and, Okay. Okay. So, so A DA, so they work on a DA egress, um, life safety and other specifications.

  19. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:41:02

      Okay. Thank you. All right.

  20. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:41:03

      We're going to, uh, open us this up for public comment. Who would like to speak to this? It looks like we have one online. Sean, go ahead and turn your camera on and, uh, let us know your location. And you have, uh, one minute.

  21. Shawn Benjamin, Liaison Director Government Affairs, American Institute of Architects1:41:25

      Are you guys able to see me? Yes, go ahead. All Right, thank you. Um, my name is Sean Benjamin. I'm, uh, an architect, uh, licensed in the state of Utah. I'm also on the board of directors for the a i a as well as the Government Affairs Committee liaison. Um, I appreciate the opportunity. Um, and, and I would like to start out by thanking, um, uh, Senator Esca, uh, for bringing the architects on board. Uh, we had a panel of several architects that was, uh, able to review the legislation and, and work with her and, and the interior design group to, uh, come up with, with, with what we thought was, uh, a, a reasonable, uh, expansion of, of the interior design, the commercial interior design, um, scope of, of practice, um, to, to the point of, uh, Representative Peterson. Uh, it, it is an expansion of scope. It is, um, uh, something that make it broadens the, the world that interior design, commercial interior designers can work within. And, um, part of what we, uh, looked at as architects was, are they expanding the type of, uh, work that they can do? And, and we just Didn't second that Was the case. Thank you. So, uh, we as, uh, architects in Utah, we are in support of this bill.

  22. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:42:43

      Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Uh, doesn't appear there's anyone else, uh, or, oh, we have a few. Um, yeah, we, we asked before for public comment and like nobody raised their hand. Were there two hands? Okay, go ahead. We, you've got, you've got one minute. You will take two people, so talk amongst yourselves. Okay. Uh, we have hurry. Hurry. Let's go.

  23. Don Russell, member, Taylorsville Planning Commission1:43:09

      Yep, go ahead. Uh, chair and members of the committee. I'm Don Russell. I'm a member of the planning commission of Taylorsville City, and previously served as chair of it. Also come from a line of designers and architects in my family from a municipal planning and land use perspective, Senate Bill 2 86 provides clarity, not expansion. The amendments align statutory language with current building code realities and professional practice standards. That clarity is helpful for cities planning commissions, care deeply about predictable processes, clean lines of authority, and avoiding unnecessary regulatory complexity. SB 2 86 accomplishes that it does not expand structural authority does not shift plan, review responsibility away from building officials and does not introduce new layers of municipal oversight.

  24. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:44:07

      Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And we'll take one more for public comment. No, no pressure, but we're all, we're all looking at you. Okay. Go ahead. Give us your name and your, and your, and who you're for.

  25. Evan Cindrich, principal, EDA Architects1:44:23

      Um, hearing me today, there are no pressure at all. I'd rather speak to CEOs than this group. But, uh, my name is Evan Sandrich. I'm a principal at EDA Architects and a Utah State certified commercial interior designer with over 35 years of experience in the industry. I work on a daily basis with consultant with consulting, mechanical, electrical instructional engineers, contractors and architects. And my education and experience, along with rigorous testing has allowed me to attain the designation of certified commercial interior designer several years ago. Uh, I came to speak in favor of the bill. The bill will, uh, help remove confusion of, for design professionals in building code officials by updating the language to be consistent with the state adopted IBC. Um, the bill is not an expansion of our scope of practice. Uh, we are still limited to non load bearing, non seismic, non-structural tenant improvement work within existing core and shell buildings. Um, I've worked in buildings, for instance, 95 South State one 11 South Maine, 2 2 2 Tower Wells Fargo Tower doing tenant improvement work. Um, and would like to continue to keep doing that. It's not an expansion of scope.

  26. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:45:36

      Okay. Thank you. We appreciate your comments and thank you for showing up. Is there anyone here that was against that, this bill? No. Okay. Thank you. Um, and those that are for, just raise your hand so we can, we can see if you showed up. Thank you for coming. We, we appreciate you. I'm in favor. Alright. Okay. Okay. Um, we're gonna clo go ahead and close public comment and bring it to the committee for further action.

  27. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:45:57

      Representative Ballard. Yes.

  28. Rep. Melissa G. Ballard1:45:59

      Motion to pass out favorably SB 2 86 interior design amendments. And I'll just speak to it quickly, which is, I, I think, sounds like you've worked closely with cities, with architects, with ai, ai, with, I don't see any opposition, but I think it's very clear from their testimonies that you've been very thorough with them to have them address with you the exact language for this legislation. So appreciate your work and before coming to our committee.

  29. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:46:25

      Okay, thank you. Uh, we'll go to the committee for discussion. Representative Peterson.

  30. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson1:46:29

      Thank you. I'm gonna speak against this bill and vote against it because multiple times in testimony it has, they've said that it does not expand their scope and it absolutely expands their scope into the occupancy classifications that they can work in. As well as, there's some massive clarification that needs to happen on line 56 and 57 58 in what a change of occupancy classification is according to the IBC. And, uh, what's in there doesn't make sense. So with that, I'm gonna know.

  31. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:46:59

      Okay. Thank you. There are no more lights. Our, uh, the motion is that we recommend favorably, or sorry, we're gonna take it back to the, to the sponsor first. Wait.

  32. Unknown speaker1:47:08speaker not certain

      Summation, Mr. Chair, appreciate the Support and then the, the maker of the motion waive.

  33. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:47:13

      Okay. The motion is that we recommend favorably SB 2 86 Interior design amendments. We'll go to our roll call vote

  34. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:47:24

      Representatives. Ballard? Yes. Dunnigan? Yes. Ire? Yes. Matthews? Yes. Winn? Yes. Peterson? No. Sawyer? No. Scher? Yes. Thurston Aye. White. No. Wilcox. Aye. Chair. Malloy. No. Chair, Kyle? Yes. All right. Um, that passes nine to four. The notes being represented. Peterson, Sawyer, white and Malloy. Uh, congratulations on. Thank you, Mr. Chair. All right.

  35. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:47:56

      Thank you. Committee entertain one more.

  36. Rep. Jake Sawyer1:47:57

      Uh, final motion Representative Sawyer. Motion adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you.

  37. Cochair Kyle (presiding)1:48:05

      Yeah. Right on time. Right at four. One more step.

• Mar 6, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (7 turns)

  1. Unknown speaker2:26:08speaker not certain

     Senate Bill 2 86 Interior Design Amendments by Senator Escamilla. This bill was heard in Business and Labor with a vote. 9 4 3. The House sponsors Representative Ivory.

  2. Rep. Ken Ivory2:26:18

     Representative Ivory. Thank you Mr. Speaker. This just conforms what we've done with the International Building Code and the International Code Commission for Commercial Interior Designers. And, uh, with that I'd be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Piute?

  3. Speaker (presiding)2:26:32

     Thank you, representative. Thank you Representative Ivory discussion to the bill representative Tom Peterson.

  4. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson2:26:39

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, this bill has me a little bit concerned. I will say I, I feel a little bit better about it because the International, the Association of Architects, uh, has said that they're either neutral or, or in support of this bill. And, uh, what this does is it allows interior designers to go right now they can operate, uh, they can design, do plans for b and m occupancies. But what this bill does is it moves 'em into the arena of all occupancies. Um, still does not allow them to do structural, still doesn't allow them to do new buildings. But designing a, a gel or, um, kitchens commercial occupancies outside of that BRM occupancy, uh, has me hesitant. I guess I can, I'll just say, um, I appreciate the sponsor, this bill and, and being willing to talk through it with me, but I still just have some real reservations on, um, us opening the door entirely to, entirely to interior designers. Um, and just have hesitation.

  5. Speaker (presiding)2:27:52

     Thank you Representative Peterson. Further discussion. Seeing none back to you. Representative Ivory for summation.

  6. Rep. Ken Ivory2:28:00

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. That's exactly why these commercial designers take exams and get certified so that they can deal with these things and if they engage in unprofessional conduct or a conduct outside their scope, they can be, uh, dealt with on that. They're certified for those very reasons. And, uh, this doesn't pertain to any structure that just puts them in the same, uh, categories with landscape architects, surveyors, uh, the others that are part of the, uh, international organization, uh, of uh, Inter-Organization Council on Regulation. With that Mr. Speaker, encourage your body support.

  7. Speaker (presiding)2:28:42

     Thank you. Representative voting will now be open on SB 2 86. Seeing all present, having voted voting is now closed. SPQ 86 passes this body with 39 yes votes 28 no votes will be sent to the Senate for the or signed by the speaker sent to the Senate for the signature of the President. Let's go to Madam Reading Clerk