Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official bill document posted by the Utah Legislature, fetched 2026-08-23. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official document appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
Interior Designer Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla House Sponsor: Ken Ivory LONG TITLE General Description: This bill modifies the State Certification of Commercial Interior Designers Act. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: modifies definitions; removes occupancy group limitations to allow practice within any occupancy classification within a specified scope; deletes the wall partition height limitation; adds conduct to unlawful conduct; and makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 58-86-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 294 58-86-301, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 294 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 58-86-102 is amended to read: 58-86-102. Definitions. [In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102, as] As used in this chapter: (1) "Building" means an enclosed structure, including the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, utility services, and other facilities [required for the structure] the structure requires, that has human occupancy or habitation as [its] the structure's principal purpose and is subject to the State Construction Code or an approved code under Title 15A, State Construction and Fire Codes Act. (2) "International Building Code" means the edition of the International Building Code, issued by the International Code Council, most recently adopted by the state in Section 15A-2-103. (3) (a) "Practice of commercial interior design" means, in relation to obtaining a building permit independent of an architect licensed under Title 58, Chapter 3a, Architects Licensing Act, the preparation of a plan or specification for, or the supervision of new construction, alteration, or repair of, an interior space within a newly constructed or existing building when the core and shell structural elements are not going to be changed. (b) "Practice of commercial interior design" only includes the preparation of a plan or specification for, 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:] for any occupancy classification in the International Building Code if the work is limited to non-structural, non-seismic, and non-load-bearing interior elements in accordance with this section. [(i) B; and] [(ii) M.] (c) "Practice of commercial interior design" does not include: (i) providing commercial construction documents, independent of a licensed architect, for a space that: (A) [does not already have] is lacking base building life safety components installed or designed and permitted, including required exit stairs and enclosures, paths of travel, ramps, horizontal exit passageways, disabled access, fire alarm systems, and base building fire suppression systems; or (B) is undergoing a change of occupancy classification [as described in the International Building Code] when a licensed architect or a licensed engineer is required in accordance with the International Building Code; or (ii) making changes to or [the] an addition of: (A) [foundations, beams, trusses, columns, or other primary structural framing members or seismic systems] a foundation, a beam, a truss, a column, or other primary structural framing member or seismic system; (B) [structural concrete slabs, floor and roof framing structures, or bearing and shear walls] a structural concrete slab, a floor or roof framing structure, or a bearing or shear wall; (C) [openings in roofs, floors, exterior walls, or bearing and shear walls] an opening in the roof, a floor, an exterior wall, a bearing or shear wall; (D) [exterior doors, windows, awnings, canopies, sunshades, signage, or similar exterior building elements] an exterior door, a window, an awning, a canopy, a sunshade, signage, or a similar exterior building element; (E) as described in the International Building Code, life safety equipment, including a smoke, fire, or a carbon dioxide [sensors or detectors, or other overhead building elements;] sensor or detector, or an overhead building element; or [(F) as described in the International Building Code, partial height partitions with mounted or anchored casework, shelving, or equipment;] [(G) as described in the International Building Code, bracing for partial height partitions if the top of the partition is more than eight feet above the floor; or] [(H)] (F) a piece of heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment or [distribution systems,] a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning distribution system, a building management [systems,] system, a high or medium voltage electrical distribution [systems,] system, a standby or emergency power [systems or distribution systems, plumbing or plumbing distribution systems,] system, plumbing, a fire alarm [systems, fire sprinklers systems,] system, a fire sprinkler system, a security or monitoring [systems, or] system, or a related building [systems] system. (4) "State certification" means a designation [granted by the division] the division grants on behalf of the state to an individual who [has met] meets the requirements [for state certification related to] for an occupation or profession [described in]this chapter describes. [(5) "State certified" means, when used in conjunction with an occupation or profession described in this chapter, a title that:] [(a) may be used by a person who has met the state certification requirements related to that occupation or profession described in this chapter; and] [(b) may not be used by a person who has not met the state certification requirements related to that occupation or profession described in this chapter.] [(6)] (5) "Unlawful conduct" means the same as that term is defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-86-301. Section 2. Section 58-86-301 is amended to read: 58-86-301. Unlawful conduct. "Unlawful conduct" includes: (1) (a) [using the title "state certified commercial interior designer" if the person is not a state certified commercial interior designer in good standing under this chapter; or] using the title state certified commercial interior designer, or representing that the individual is a state certified commercial interior designer if the individual is not a state certified commercial interior designer; or (b) using any other name, title, or initials that would cause a reasonable person to believe the person is licensed under this chapter if the person is not properly licensed under this chapter; or (2) engaging in the practice of commercial interior design unless exempted from licensure or state certification under Section 58-1-307 or 58-86-206. Section 3. Effective Date. This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026. 3-11-26 12:04 PM
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.