The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Legislator of the Year Award recognizes an elected official who has put forth extraordinary efforts on behalf of the commercial Interior Design profession during the previous 12 months. IIDA proudly announces Utah State Senate Assistant Minority Whip Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City) as the first-ever recipient of this award.
As the sponsor of S.B. 117, the Commercial Interior Design Certification bill, Senator Escamilla championed the cause, working to ensure that her fellow lawmakers knew that commercial interior design certification would expand business opportunities, particularly for women. Because of the devoted efforts of Senator Escamilla, S.B. 117, which creates certification for commercial interior designers and allows them to submit their documents for building permits, passed unanimously in the state Senate and House of Representatives before being signed into law by the Governor.
“Senator Escamilla’s work on the Commercial Interior Design Certification bill exemplifies the kind legislative efforts that make it possible for designers to expand their professional opportunities and the industry to increase its positive impact on local and state economies. We are pleased to present the first-ever IIDA Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Escamilla for her tireless work on the behalf of commercial interior designers in Utah,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP.
For more information about the Legislator of the Year Award or IIDA advocacy initiatives, contact Abby Rathbun at arathbun@iida.org.
About International Interior Design Association
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is the Commercial Interior Design Association with a global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancement in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of Interior Design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. For more information, visit www.iida.org.