A proposed sales tax in Ohio, introduced in the state budget bill (HB49) in January 2017, sought to tax interior design and decoration services. The International Interior Design Association (IIDA), together with the American Society for Interior Designers (ASID), mobilized a grassroots advocacy campaign and successfully defeated the proposed tax. Governor John Kasich signed the budget on Friday, June 30.
"This tax provision would have put Ohio's interior designers at a distinct competitive disadvantage in relation to interior designers in neighboring states, as well as other design professionals whose services are not taxed," commented Emily Kluczynski, director of advocacy, public policy, and legislative affairs at IIDA. "The combined efforts of IIDA and ASID have protected the profession of interior design in Ohio."
IIDA and ASID, with the help of local chapters IIDA Ohio/Kentucky, ASID Ohio North, and ASID Ohio South and Kentucky, advocated against this measure with members of the associations testifying to the House Ways and Means and House Finance committees. Due to their efforts, the budget was amended to exclude the sales tax provisions.