Judge strikes down Conn. interior designer law
Published Sunday, July 05, 2009
HARTFORD, Conn. A federal judge has struck down a Connecticut law that requires people to get a license before calling themselves an interior designer.
Tuesday's ruling by a federal judge came after the Institute for Justice sued the state's Department of Consumer Protection last September on behalf of three Connecticut residents. They claimed the law was elitist and eliminated competition.
Many states regulate the interior design industry, although none have a law as restrictive as Connecticut's.
Under the law, unlicensed people who call themselves interior designers could be fined up to $500 and could be put in prison for up to one year.
State officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.