Why It Matters

The American Society of Interior Designers confronts expiring tax breaks that promoted design work to create energy efficiency. The Section 179D tax deduction for energy-efficient buildings expires June 30, 2026, eliminating a major incentive for design work.

Meanwhile, Congress has expanded workforce development funding for professional certifications, a legislative win for ASID’s advocacy priorities. The organization’s fourth quarter 2025 spending appears aimed at defending tax incentives and accessibility standards while leveraging bipartisan support for professional development.

Since federal regulation of interior design is virtually nonexistent at the congressional level, ASID’s lobbying strategy centers on shaping broader legislation affecting small business, energy, and professional advancement.

By the Numbers

ASID reported $60,000 in lobbying expenditures for the last quarter of 2025, conducting its advocacy entirely through in-house lobbyists. This continues the organization’s two-decade lobbying history, which began in August 2003. From 2016 to 2018, ASID engaged Keelen Group LLC, which filed 11 disclosures totaling $60,000—matching this quarter’s spending.

ASID has historically advocated across 18 different issue codes, concentrating on energy efficiency standards, workforce development programs, accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and tax provisions benefiting energy-efficient commercial buildings. The organization maintains an in-house operation, ensuring specialized knowledge and direct control over advocacy messaging while providing institutional continuity in Washington relationships.

The Agenda

ASID does not disclose specific legislation targeted in its fourth quarter 2025 filing. However, the organization’s lobbying history reveals consistent focus on energy efficiency standards, workforce development, accessibility requirements, and tax policy. ASID previously lobbied on the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act provisions.

The current congressional landscape shows no active federal legislation specifically addressing interior design licensing or professional practice—matters handled at the state level.

Competitive Landscape

The interior design industry operates in a largely uncontested federal lobbying environment. No other organizations file lobbying disclosures on interior design professional practice issues, positioning ASID as the singular federal voice for the profession. This lack of competitive lobbying activity reflects the reality that interior design regulation is fundamentally a state-level matter.

The Bottom Line

ASID spent $60,000 on federal lobbying in the final quarter of 2025, continuing two decades of advocacy efforts. While interior design licensing remains a state-level issue, ASID’s federal strategy focuses on energy efficiency standards, accessibility requirements, tax incentives, and workforce development. Recent policy developments create both challenges—energy efficiency rules face uncertainty and the Section 179D tax deduction sunsets in 2026—and opportunities through expanded workforce development provisions and improved small business tax benefits. ASID’s continued federal presence positions it to defend professional interests while engaging policymakers on the economic importance of design firms.

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