Texas Doesn

Texas State Senator Kip Averitt informed the International Assn. of Lighting Designers (IALD) that the “lighting designer” language in Texas House Bill 2649 will be withdrawn and replaced with language requesting a study by the Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation of the feasibility of licensing in the industry. On May 23, Sen. Averitt introduced amendment language at the committee level to ban the lighting-design industry.

“The IALD is extremely pleased that the combined grassroots efforts organized by the architectural and theatrical lighting design communities have paid off,” IALD President Jeff Miller stated. “We will continue to work with the Texas legislature and executive branches to insure the continued economic and creative health of our industry.”

The Texas legislative session reached its statutory end-of-life on May 31. However, as technical issues are worked out, lighting designers will be able to continue to practice in Texas.

On May 27, 2009, the Texas State Legislature passed legislation drafted, without any input from lighting designers, restricting the practice of lighting design to members of other professions and trades, such as architects, engineers and electricians. There are no provisions in the legislation for establishing a licensing standard for lighting designers.

The IALD has urged the Texas Senate Business and Commerce Committee remove language restrictive to the profession in Texas House Bill 2649 as a “technical adjustment” when the bill is prepared for Gov. Rick Perry’s signature, or the eventual veto of the bill by the governor should no changes in language be made.

The economic impact of the proposed legislation would be extensive. Many lighting designers practice in Texas, and hundreds of projects in the state depend on professional lighting designers for their full architectural expression.

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