Boards and Commissions - As introduced, transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers; removes registration requirement for interior designers; removes funding mechanism that requires revenues generated from contractor licensing fees, penalties, or interest allocated, in part, to the board of licensing contractors be utilized for the purposes set forth in the Go Build Tennessee Act; and makes other changes relative to occupational boards. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2; Title 20, Chapter 9, Part 6; Title 55, Chapter 17, Part 1; Title 62, Chapter 13; Title 62, Chapter 18; Title 62, Chapter 2; Title 62, Chapter 20; Title 62, Chapter 27; Title 62, Chapter 35; Title 62, Chapter 4; Title 62, Chapter 6; Title 62, Chapter 76; Title 68, Chapter 102 and Title 68, Chapter 105.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee bill consolidates land surveyor regulation, eliminates interior designer registration, and removes dedicated contractor licensing fee funding for workforce development.

Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

#boardsandcommissions

Legislative bill overview

SB 2224 consolidates occupational licensing oversight by transferring land surveyor regulation from a dedicated state board to the board of examiners for architects and engineers. The bill eliminates the registration requirement for interior designers and removes a funding mechanism that directed contractor licensing revenues toward Tennessee's Go Build Tennessee Act initiatives.

Why is this important

These changes affect professionals in construction and design fields by altering regulatory structures and compliance requirements. The removal of interior designer registration may reduce barriers to entry in that profession, while consolidating surveyor oversight could affect how that profession is regulated and funded. The elimination of dedicated contractor licensing fee allocations impacts funding available for workforce development programs under Go Build Tennessee.

Potential points of contention

Consolidation efficiency vs. specialization: Transferring surveyor oversight to architects and engineers may streamline bureaucracy but risks diluting specialized expertise in land surveying regulation

Interior designer protections: Removing registration requirements could lower professional standards and consumer protections, or conversely, reduce unnecessary regulatory burden depending on perspective

Workforce development funding: Eliminating the dedicated contractor licensing revenue stream for Go Build Tennessee could reduce funding for construction industry training and development programs that states use to address labor shortages