AB1796 would create a new state license for professional interior designers regulated by the California Architects Board. Licensed designers could prepare and submit certain interior-design plans and specifications for construction projects, while the board would set education, examination, licensing, fee, and disciplinary requirements; practicing without a license could result in civil penalties.

The California State Assembly passed AB1796 on May 26, 2026 by a vote of 51 to 7. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill expands government regulation over private industry and restricts free-market competition. Its requirements for interior designers impose unnecessary financial and regulatory burdens on individuals seeking to enter or advance in the profession. Furthermore, subjecting individuals to civil penalties for performing work within the newly licensed scope gives government greater control over an occupation that should instead be governed by the free market.