Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly roundup of the public-policy issues currently impacting the full cleaning supply chain. This update touches on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ending automatic extensions of employment authorization documents, advocacy happenings at ISSA Show North America 2025, early-bird registration for the 2026 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, and more.

Want to stay informed about critical government affairs impacting the cleaning and facility-solutions industry? Sign up here to have the ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update emailed directly to you every other week.

ISSA Advocacy

DHS Ends Automatic Extensions of Employment Authorizations
What it means: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an interim final rule ending the practice of automatically extending employment authorization documents for aliens filing renewal applications in certain employment authorization categories. With this rule, “DHS prioritizes the proper screening and vetting of aliens before extending the validity of their employment authorizations.”

Aliens who file to renew their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD. There are limited exceptions to this rule, including extensions provided by law or through a Federal Register notice for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)-related employment documentation.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recommends that aliens seek a timely renewal of their EAD by properly filing a renewal application up to 180 days before their EAD expires: “The longer an alien waits to file an EAD renewal application, the more likely it is that they may experience a temporary lapse in their employment authorization or documentation.”

The interim final rule does not affect EADs automatically extended before October 30, 2025. Learn more here (USCIS) and here (HR Dive)
Why it matters: This announcement removes a safety net that granted immigrants a 540-day automatic renewal while their employment authorization documents were pending and is likely to significantly exacerbate the labor shortages facing the cleaning industry.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA is closely monitoring this issue and will update our members accordingly. Please share with us how this interim final rule will affect your cleaning business as ISSA may incorporate this feedback in comments to DHS. And using ISSA’s Advocacy Action Center, urge your congressional delegation to cosponsor the bipartisan HR 5494 to help alleviate chronic labor shortages in industries like cleaning, facility services, hospitality, and more. Take action now

The Countdown Is On — Are You Ready for ISSA Show North America 2025?
Get ready to bring your voice to Las Vegas! From November 10 to 13, your ISSA Advocacy Team is bringing Capitol Hill to the show floor with dynamic sessions, hands-on projects, and can’t miss opportunities to learn more about and shape the public policies affecting your business and the cleaning industry. All the following events are included with your show registration unless otherwise noted. Don’t “gamble” that you’ll remember to participate in these unique advocacy opportunities in Vegas—mark your calendar and/or ISSA Show NA app now!

🗓 November 10

Navigating Challenges in the Cleaning Industry: Bold Ideas for a New Era, 9 am-10 am, South Pacific F – North Convention Center; All Access Pass required

Politics, Policy, & Your Business: What Cleaning Companies Need to Know, 1:45 pm-2:45 pm, Islander H – North Convention Center

🗓 November 11

Industry Leaders Roundtable, 12 pm-12:30 pm, Business Solutions Theater – Show Floor, Booth #1417

ISSA End Period Poverty Service Project, 1 pm-3 pm, ISSA Experience Hub – Show Floor, Booth #3701; we kindly request that those who work for businesses beginning with letters A-L volunteer between 1 pm and 2 pm and those who work for businesses beginning with letters M-Z volunteer between 2 pm and 3 pm. Sponsored by Hospeco Brands Group

🗓 November 12

From Job to Career: Elevating Cleaning with Training and Trade Recognition, 12 pm-12:30 pm, Business Solutions Theater – Show Floor, Booth #1417

Panel Discussion: Extended Producer Responsibility & Sustainable Packaging, 1 pm-2 pm, Business Solutions Theater – Show Floor, Booth #1417

Voices of Change: How You Can Champion the Cleaning Industry, 3:30 pm- 4 pm, CleanMeet Zone – Show Floor, Booth #3555

ISSA Advocacy Meet & Greet, 4 pm-5 pm, CleanMeet Zone – Show Floor, Booth #3555

💬 Plus, visit the Advocacy Kiosk in the ISSA Experience Hub, Booth #3701, anytime during the show to meet your Advocacy Team, explore our latest initiatives, and discover how you can make an impact.

👉 Learn more and register for the show now

Be the Voice of Clean in DC—Early-Bird Registration Open
Secure your spot at the 2026 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit! Early-bird registration is open for this premier fly-in event for the cleaning and facility-solutions industries—returning to Washington, DC, March 23–24.

In 2025, a record-breaking 140+ advocates from 30+ states met with 170+ congressional offices. In 2026, we’re raising the bar—bringing together 150+ cleaning-industry leaders like you to take on the issues shaping our future: labor shortages, supply chains, workforce development, healthy workplaces, period poverty, and more.

And next year, the summit will serve as the capstone of International Cleaning Week, March 22–28—featuring the first-ever ICW Awards Dinner on March 23, where we’ll honor top advocates, policymakers, spotless spaces, and rising leaders in our industry.

What’s in store

Day One: Insider policy briefings, hands-on advocacy training, high-power networking, and the celebratory ICW Awards Dinner.

Day Two: Hit the Hill—meet face-to-face with lawmakers and congressional staff to make your voice heard.

Why you can’t miss it

• Exclusive policy insights impacting your business now and in the future
• Direct conversations with your congressional delegation
• Powerful networking with industry leaders nationwide
• Expert briefings from Washington insiders
• Sharpened advocacy skills you’ll use well beyond the summit
• A seat at the inaugural ICW Awards Dinner

Join us next spring in our nation’s capital to change the way policymakers view cleaning. Learn more & register now

Thank you to ISSA member companies The Germ Girl/Elite Facility Systems, Kaivac, and Verde Clean for their recent contributions to the ISSA Advocacy Fund at the Supporter level.

Additional Updates

Regulatory

Tariffs

Trump Touts Short-Term Deal with China after Xi Meeting
President Trump touted his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea last week, saying that the two leaders reached one-year agreements to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports, delay Chinese restrictions on its rare earth mineral exports, and secure Chinese purchases of American soybeans and other farm products. Speaking to reporters following the meeting with Xi, Trump said that the 20% tariffs on China related to fentanyl were being reduced to 10%, bringing the total amount of duties imposed on Chinese imports from 57% to 47%.

The US and China also agreed to pause tit-for-tat shipping levies for a year following the meeting. This move affects new port fees implemented by the US in October for Chinese ships and China’s retaliatory fees on US vessels. Learn more (ABC News)

• US launches investigation into China’s compliance with 2020 trade deal (Reuters)
• Trump finalizes trade deals with Cambodia, Malaysia (Politico)
• S Korea lowers tariffs as part of new US trade deal (BBC)
• Trump raises tariffs on Canada by 10% (Washington Post)
• This week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that may decide the fate of Trump’s tariff policies (National Constitution Center)

Other Regulations

Changes to Small-Business Regulations: An Overview of the FAR Part 19 Rewrite
The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council recently released the rewrite of FAR Part 19, a “notoriously complex set of regulations that covers the policies, procedures and programs designed to maximize small business participation in federal contracting.” This rewrite is intended to enhance the intuitiveness and ease of applying regulations to small businesses in the federal procurement process. The FAR Council also issued a Practitioner Album, which summarizes proposed changes to the regulations and provides guidance and resources for navigating small-business opportunities within the procurement process.

According to Miles & Stockbridge, the effects of the FAR Part 19 rewrite appear limited, at least for now. However, the regulatory environment for small businesses continues to be complex. It is more important than ever for small businesses to be aware of the interplay between the FAR and U.S. Small Business Administration regulations to stay compliant as this landscape shifts. Learn more (Miles & Stockbridge)

Legislative

Government Shutdown Extends to This Week
The U.S. Senate adjourned on Thursday of last week and won’t meet again until today, extending the government shutdown until at least its 34th day, which matches the longest funding lapse in U.S. history. Learn more (CBS News)

• Background checks and the 2025 government shutdown: delays, data freshness, and what you can do (JD Supra)

US Senate Rejects Trump’s Tariffs on More Than 100 Countries
The U.S. Senate took a stand against President Trump’s global tariffs affecting more than 100 countries, voting to nullify the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs. Four Republicans joined with all Democrats to vote 51-47 on a resolution to end the base-level tariffs that the President put into place via executive order. It was the third time that Republicans voted alongside Democrats on a tariff resolution last week, previously rallying to end tariffs targeting Brazil and Canada.

Despite the opposition in the Senate, the House of Representatives is unlikely to take any similar action. House Republicans created a rule earlier this year that will block resolutions on the tariffs from receiving a floor vote. Learn more (The Hill)

State & Local News

Extended-Producer-Responsibility Updates

California

On October 14, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) sent a letter requesting that CalRecycle and the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) delay the initial producer reporting requirement under California’s SB 54 until the agency finalizes the permanent regulations governing the program. Three days later, the Director of CalRecycle responded to NAW’s letter stating that:

“CalRecycle has reviewed your letter and would like to clarify that the reporting requirements referenced, due November 15, are not statutory nor regulatory provisions under the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54). Rather, this voluntary reporting is being requested by Circular Action Alliance (CAA) to support the development of their Producer Responsibility Plan and source reduction baseline reporting. As such, CalRecycle does not have direct authority over this voluntary reporting. Reporting to CalRecycle will not be in effect until permanent regulations are finalized and effective. We recommend further discussion directly with CAA regarding your concerns.”

Colorado

On July 23, NAW requested a delay to the July 31, 2025, effective date or, at a minimum, enforcement of the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling due to widespread confusion and a substantial number of outstanding questions of impacted parties on who must register, with what organization, and what products are covered by the law. On October 3, the state sent a lengthy response responding to all of NAW’s questions, which can be viewed here.

ISSA members can also view our Summary of State Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Laws. This summary provides an overview of the California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington State EPR laws from the perspective of the cleaning industry. For each of these states, the summary provides an overview of:

• Packaging covered by each state law and exemptions;
• Description of the regulated entity (i.e., “producer”);
• Producer responsibilities; and
• Implementation schedule.

Minimum Wage Increases

Maine

Maine’s minimum wage is set to increase from US$14.65 to $15.10 per hour on January 1, 2026, following a 3.1% rise in the Northeast Region’s cost-of-living index from August 2024 to August 2025. Additionally, the tip wage for service employees increases to $7.55 per hour, and the new minimum salary for overtime exemption will be $871.16 per week. Importantly, while the minimum wage for 2026 has been set at the state level, Portland’s minimum wage remains uncertain until the results of November’s ballot referendum. Learn more (Fisher Phillips)

Florida

Florida’s minimum wage rose to US$14 per hour on September 30, and the minimum wage for tipped employees grew to $10.98 per hour. This is part of a phased increase that will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by September 2026, after which it will be adjusted annually based on inflation. This change is part of a state constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2020.

New York State

Beginning on January 1, 2026, workers who earn the minimum wage across New York State also will see an increase of US50 cents per hour, bringing the minimum wage up to $15.50 per hour. In New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, the minimum wage will rise by an additional 50 cents per hour, bringing the hourly wage up to $16.50. Learn more (Cleaning & Maintenance Management)