HB2286

Regular Session

Relating to the renewal of a certificate of registration by certain interior designers.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Board of Architectural Examiners

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2037 (This is the new hard deadline for grandfathered registrants to pass the exam to renew their license).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) is not required to issue new rules to effectuate the date change. However, monitor TBAE for guidance regarding how current exam versions will satisfy the statutory reference to the "2014" standard over the next decade.

Immediate Action Plan

Audit Personnel: Immediately identify which employees hold a certificate of registration "without examination."
Update Systems: Manually override the expiration/exam deadline in your compliance tracking software to September 1, 2037.
Notify Staff: Issue a memo to affected senior designers confirming their licensure security; this is a significant retention tool for senior talent who may have been considering early retirement.
Revise Bids: Update long-term government and commercial proposals (RFPs/RFQs) to list these individuals as key registered personnel for projects extending beyond 2027.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Employment Agreements: Review contracts for senior principals and associates. Clauses triggering renegotiation, termination, or loss of status based on a 2027 licensure expiration must be amended to reflect the 2037 date.
Partnership Agreements: If equity ownership is contingent upon maintaining active registration, update the vesting or divestment schedules to align with the 10-year extension.

Hiring/Training

Succession Planning: Halt "wind-down" plans for staff previously facing the 2027 deadline. You may now retain and market these individuals as "Registered Interior Designers" for an additional decade.
Professional Development: De-escalate emergency exam preparation. You may now spread the cost and time requirements for the NCIDQ (or equivalent) exam over a longer timeline, rather than forcing completion by 2027.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Licensure Tracking: Update internal HR and compliance software immediately. Change the "Must Pass Exam By" flag for affected employees from 09/01/2027 to 09/01/2037.
Personnel Files: Document the status of affected employees as "Grandfathered – Extension Granted" to ensure future compliance officers do not flag them as non-compliant in 2027.

Fees & Costs

Budget Impact: Positive. Firms may defer exam fees and study material costs that were aggressively budgeted for the FY2025-2027 window.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The "Frozen" Exam Standard: The statute requires the registrant to pass the examination "adopted by the board and in effect on January 1, 2014."

The Risk: Testing standards (such as NCIDQ) evolve. It is technically unclear how the TBAE will administer a "2014 standard" exam in the 2030s.
The Forecast: We anticipate the TBAE will interpret this to mean that passing the *current* version of the exam satisfies the requirement. However, do not assume legacy credits will transfer indefinitely. Ensure staff aim to pass the current rigorous standard to avoid administrative disputes.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsOccupational Regulation Occupational Regulation--other Trades & Professions Interior Designers

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2286

By: Craddick

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed S.B. 429, which contained an interior designer registration requirement that included a grandfather clause allowing experienced designers to register without examination if they had been practicing since 1985. However, the requirement was changed in 2009 to make registration completely voluntary, though some interior designers still pursued registration to meet requirements in the International Building Code and certain requests for proposals. As a result of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners' sunset review in 2013, the legislature subsequently enacted H.B. 1717, which prevented grandfathered interior designers from renewing their registration unless they passed the national examby September 1, 2017. This date was extended by 10 years by a subsequent legislature, and currently those who do not pass the exam by that date will not be permitted to renew their certificate of registration. H.B. 2286 seeks to address this issue for many professionals who are facing this rule change late in their careers by extending by 10 years the date on or after which an interior designer who holds a certificate of registration that was issued without examination may no longer renew the certificate unless the person has passed the exam adopted by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2286 amends the Occupations Code to postpone from September 1, 2027, to September 1, 2037, the date on or after which a person who holds a certificate of registration relating to interior designers that was issued without examination may no longer renew the certificate unless the person has passed the required registration examination adopted by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. The bill postpones the date on which this provision expires from January 1, 2029, to January 1, 2039.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Tom CraddickRepublican · Primary Author

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 2286

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the renewal of a certificate of registration by certain
	interior designers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 1051.351(c-1), Occupations Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(c-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person who holds a
	certificate of registration issued under Chapter 1053 without
	examination may not renew the certificate on or after September 1,
	2037 [~~2027~~], unless, before September 1, 2037 [~~2027~~], the person
	has passed the registration examination adopted by the board under
	Section 1053.154 and in effect on January 1, 2014. This subsection
	expires January 1, 2039 [~~2029~~].
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 20, 2025

TO:	Honorable Dade Phelan, Chair, House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB2286 by Craddick (Relating to the renewal of a certificate of registration by certain interior designers.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The Board of Architectural Examiners is a self-directed, semi-independent agency that is responsible for its costs of operations, prohibited from causing the General Revenue Fund to incur any cost, and not subject to the legislative budgeting process.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

459 Board of Architectural Examiners

LBB Staff:

JMc, TUf, GDZ, JBel

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB2286

What does Texas HB2286 do?

HB2286 grants a ten-year extension to "grandfathered" interior designers who have not yet passed the required registration examination. Firms employing these senior professionals now have until September 1, 2037, to ensure licensure compliance, preventing the forced retirement or termination of key staff who were previously facing a licensure "cliff" in 2027. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2037 (This is the new hard deadline for grandfathered registrants to pass the exam to renew their license).

Who authored HB2286?

HB2286 was authored by Texas Representative Tom Craddick during the Regular Session.

When was HB2286 signed into law?

HB2286 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB2286?

HB2286 is enforced by Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.

How urgent is compliance with HB2286?

The compliance urgency for HB2286 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB2286?

The cost impact of HB2286 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB2286 address?

HB2286 addresses topics including occupational regulation, occupational regulation--other trades & professions and interior designers.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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