California 20252026 Regular Session Status: Passed Assembly 1 D cosponsors

AB 1796 — Licensed Professional Interior Designer Practice Act.

Last action — From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Assembly. Introduced February 10, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Assembly

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill establishes licensure and regulation for professional interior designers in California.

This bill would create a licensing system for interior designers, managed by the California Architects Board, and establish eligibility requirements for certification. It also includes penalties for practicing without a license and certain exemptions for other professionals.

What this means for you
  • Workers: For interior designers, this means they will need to meet new licensing requirements to practice legally.
  • Consumers: For consumers, this enhances the assurance that licensed interior designers have met standardized professional criteria.
  • Small Business: For small design businesses, this could lead to increased regulatory compliance costs and the need for licensed staff.

Summary

Existing law, until January 1, 2027, establishes a scheme for the certification of interior designers by the California Council for Interior Design Certification, a nonprofit organization, by obtaining a stamp from the council that identifies them as a certified interior designer, and makes it an unfair business practice for any person to represent or hold themselves out as a certified interior designer without a valid certification. Existing law also authorizes the council to issue a commercial designation to a person who satisfies specified requirements. Under the existing scheme, a certification under those provisions expires in 2 years unless renewed in a specified manner. Existing law, the Architects Practice Act, establishes the California Architects Board, consisting of 10 members, in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate the practice of architecture. This bill would authorize the council to issue a professional designation to a certified interior designer or qualified applicant only until ____, 2027, and would instead provide for the licensure and regulation of the practice of licensed professional interior design, as defined, by the board. The bill would add a member to the board who is a professional interior designer, and would specify that the professional interior designer member's term begins and expires on unspecified dates. This bill would require the board to determine eligibility requirements, including examination and education requirements necessary for licensure, as provided. The bill would authorize the board to determine whether additional education or training is required for professional interior designers to identify when architectural or engineering services are required and, if so, would require the board to develop and prescribe sufficient education or training. The bill would impose an unspecified civil penalty for engaging in certain acts, including the practice of licensed professional interior design, without a license. This bill would exempt professional engineers, architects, land surveyors, and licensed contractors from the bill's provisions governing professional interior design. The bill would require any stamp used by a licensed professional interior designer to be of a design authorized by the board and would prescribe the information contained in the stamp. The bill would establish requirements for professional interior instruments of service, as defined, and would prohibit a public entity from accepting professional interior instruments of service submissions from an individual who is not a licensed professional interior designer. By imposing requirements on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prescribe acts that are subject to discipline by the board and the manner of discipline, and would specify conditions of renewal and expiration of a license. The bill would require the board to fix certain fees relating to licensure at specified and unspecified amounts, to be deposited into the California Professional Interior Designer Fund, established by the bill, to be made available to the board upon appropriation by the Legislature to be used to defray the expenses of the board in carrying out and enforcing the provisions of the bill. The bill would require the board to implement its provisions by July 1, 2028. The bill would make other related and conforming changes to the Architects Practice Act and the provisions governing interior designers. Existing law allows a design professional, as defined, to claim a lien on certain works of improvement, as specified. This bill would include licensed interior designers in the definition of "design professional" for purposes of the above-referenced lien provisions. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

  2. Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and PUB. S.

  3. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  4. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 51. Noes 7.)

  5. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  6. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).

  7. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  8. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  9. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  10. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

  11. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  12. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

  13. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  14. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

  15. Referred to Com. on B. & P.

  16. From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

  17. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 8 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

AB 1796 Jackson Assembly Third Reading

Passed 51 Yea · 7 Nay · 22 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 441014
Republican 7508
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 517022
% of votes cast 64%9%0%28%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Nay
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Not Voting
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Not Voting
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Not Voting
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Nay
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Not Voting
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Not Voting
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Not Voting
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Not Voting
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Not Voting
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Not Voting
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Not Voting
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Not Voting
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Not Voting
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Not Voting
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Nay
Castillo, Leticia Republican Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
DeMaio, Carl Republican Nay
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Ellis, Stan Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Not Voting
Johnson, Natasha Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Not Voting
Sanchez, Kate Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Nay
Tangipa, David J. Republican Not Voting
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 11 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 0400
Total 11400
% of votes cast 73%27%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Nay
Tangipa, David J. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 13 Yea · 1 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11102
Republican 2003
Total 13105
% of votes cast 68%5%0%26%
How each member voted (19)
Member Party Vote
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Not Voting
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Nay
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Hadwick, Heather Republican Not Voting
Johnson, Natasha Republican Yea
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety labor education
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 1796 do?
Existing law, until January 1, 2027, establishes a scheme for the certification of interior designers by the California Council for Interior Design Certification, a nonprofit organization, by obtaining a stamp from the council that identifies them as a certified interior designer, and makes it an unfair business practice for any person to represent or hold themselves out as a certified interior designer without a valid certification. Existing law also authorizes the council to issue a commercial designation to a person who satisfies specified requirements. Under the existing scheme, a certification under those provisions expires in 2 years unless renewed in a specified manner. Existing law, the Architects Practice Act, establishes the California Architects Board, consisting of 10 members, in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate the practice of architecture. This bill would authorize the council to issue a professional designation to a certified interior designer or qualified applicant only until ____, 2027, and would instead provide for the licensure and regulation of the practice of licensed professional interior design, as defined, by the board. The bill would add a member to the board who is a professional interior designer, and would specify that the professional interior designer member's term begins and expires on unspecified dates. This bill would require the board to determine eligibility requirements, including examination and education requirements necessary for licensure, as provided. The bill would authorize the board to determine whether additional education or training is required for professional interior designers to identify when architectural or engineering services are required and, if so, would require the board to develop and prescribe sufficient education or training. The bill would impose an unspecified civil penalty for engaging in certain acts, including the practice of licensed professional interior design, without a license. This bill would exempt professional engineers, architects, land surveyors, and licensed contractors from the bill's provisions governing professional interior design. The bill would require any stamp used by a licensed professional interior designer to be of a design authorized by the board and would prescribe the information contained in the stamp. The bill would establish requirements for professional interior instruments of service, as defined, and would prohibit a public entity from accepting professional interior instruments of service submissions from an individual who is not a licensed professional interior designer. By imposing requirements on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prescribe acts that are subject to discipline by the board and the manner of discipline, and would specify conditions of renewal and expiration of a license. The bill would require the board to fix certain fees relating to licensure at specified and unspecified amounts, to be deposited into the California Professional Interior Designer Fund, established by the bill, to be made available to the board upon appropriation by the Legislature to be used to defray the expenses of the board in carrying out and enforcing the provisions of the bill. The bill would require the board to implement its provisions by July 1, 2028. The bill would make other related and conforming changes to the Architects Practice Act and the provisions governing interior designers. Existing law allows a design professional, as defined, to claim a lien on certain works of improvement, as specified. This bill would include licensed interior designers in the definition of "design professional" for purposes of the above-referenced lien provisions. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors AB 1796?
AB 1796 is sponsored by Jackson, Corey A. (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 1796?
This bill has passed the Assembly. Introduced February 10, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track AB 1796?
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