Industry News > ISSA Leg. & Reg. Update | Bicameral Safer Choice Legislation Introduced

ISSA Leg. & Reg. Update | Bicameral Safer Choice Legislation Introduced

October 6, 2026

Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly round up of the public policies currently impacting the cleaning and facility solutions industry. This update touches on the introduction of legislation to authorize EPA’s Safer Choice Program in both the U.S. House and Senate, the launch of the Global Framework for Action: Advancing Healthy Indoor Air through Societal Engagement and Market Transformation, the ISSA Election Center, and more.

Want to stay informed about critical government affairs impacting the entire built environment? Sign up here to have the ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update emailed directly to you every other week

When Our Industry Speaks, Washington Listens

Last month, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to formally authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice Program, joining bipartisan companion legislation already introduced in the Senate. Learn more

That didn’t happen by accident.

This spring, 140+ cleaning and facility solutions leaders from 30+ states came to Washington for the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit and met with 150+ congressional offices. Authorization of Safer Choice—a voluntary, science-based program that identifies products made with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment—was one of our top legislative “asks.”

ISSA members made the case. Congress heard it. And now bipartisan Safer Choice legislation is moving forward in both chambers.

That’s what effective advocacy looks like and why showing up matters.

Ready to help create the next win? Early bird registration is now open for the 2027 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, April 12–13 in Washington, DC.

Next year, we’re raising the bar: 150+ industry leaders on Capitol Hill advocating for solutions to the biggest challenges facing your business and our industry, from labor shortages and workforce development to supply-chain resilience and healthy workplaces.

What to expect:

April 12 — Insider policy briefings, hands-on advocacy training, networking, and the second annual International Cleaning Week Awards Dinner celebrating our industry’s advocates, policymakers, spotless spaces, and rising leaders.

April 13 — Take it to Capitol Hill for face-to-face meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff. We arrange the meetings. You bring your story. Together, we make our industry heard.

Your voice helped build this momentum. Now help us keep it going. Register today to take advantage of early bird pricing. Space is limited.

ISSA Helps Lead Global Initiative for Healthier Indoor Air

What it means: The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air launched the Global Framework for Action: Advancing Healthy Indoor Air through Societal Engagement and Market Transformation, a landmark global roadmap designed to elevate and embed healthy indoor air as a public health imperative and market priority, ultimately institutionalizing it as an everyday expectation in buildings everywhere.
Why it matters: The framework provides a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for tackling one of the world’s most consequential yet under-recognized public health challenges. Household air pollution alone contributes to more than three million premature deaths each year, but mortality is only the starkest measure of a wider toll. Poor indoor air increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, worsens asthma and allergies, contributes to the spread of airborne infection, and undermines learning, cognitive performance, productivity, and quality of life.
What ISSA is doing: John Barrett, Chair Emeritus at ISSA, served as a Commissioner on the landmark effort, contributing expertise to help shape the strategic levers and actionable recommendations designed to drive global market transformation and public health impact. Learn more (CMM)

The Midterms Are Almost Here—Are You Ready?

What it means: Election Day is less than a month away and the decisions made on November 3 will help shape the future of the cleaning and facility solutions industry.

Why it matters: With every U.S. House seat, 35 Senate seats, and 39 governorships on the ballot, this election will influence the policies that affect your business, from workforce and labor issues to environmental regulations and public health.
What ISSA is doing: Be prepared by visiting the ISSA Election Center, where you can:

  • Register to vote
  • Verify your voter registration
  • Find your polling place
  • View your ballot and candidates
  • Access other essential voting resources

Every vote matters. Whether you vote early, absentee, or on Election Day, make a plan to cast your ballot and encourage your colleagues, family, and friends to do the same.

And join ISSA VP of Government & Public Affairs John Nothdurft for a free ISSA post-election webinar at 12 pm CT on December 2 to learn what the 2026 election results mean for your business and the cleaning and facility solutions industry. Reserve your spot today.

Additional Updates

Regulatory

What Employers Need to Know about OSHA’s Heat Stress Rule

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new proposed heat stress rule introduces the requirement for a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan, which includes hydration, rest breaks, acclimatization, and emergency response. Here’s what you need to know to implement a compliant plan. Learn more (EHS Today)

Upcoming webinars on implementation of:

Pesticide Electronic Search & Transparency Interface (PESTi) l October 7, 11 am CT

Learn about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) implementation of PESTi, a new single, unified website for displaying public pesticide data. EPA’s PESTi website consolidates product data and product label links, inert ingredient data, and trade name inert product data. During the webinar, EPA will answer questions on PESTi implementation and provide a demonstration of this new website. Register now

MyPeST l October 21, 11 am CT

Learn more about the continued implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs’ MyPeST system and new features being added to include the Section Seven Tracking System functionality in MyPeST, along with other enhancements. During the webinar, EPA will answer questions on MyPeST implementation and preview upcoming enhancements, which are scheduled to deploy in late October. Register now

Legislative

American Franchise Act Advances Toward House Floor Vote

The U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce reported H.R. 5267, the American Franchise Act, with an amendment last month. The measure was committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered printed, clearing another procedural step before the bill can be considered by the full House of Representatives.

The legislation would amend the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to define a franchisor as a joint employer only when it exercises substantial, direct, and immediate control over a franchisee’s wages, hiring, discipline, and other essential employment terms. Supporters assert that the measure would establish a federal standard after years of changes in how the National Labor Relations Board has defined joint-employer liability. Learn more (1851 Franchise)

Judicial & State News

Oregon EPR Fight Moves to Appeals Court

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) appealed a federal district court ruling that upheld Oregon’s Extended Producer Responsibility packaging law.

NAW filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in NAW v. Feldon, challenging the August 27 ruling that Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act does not violate the dormant Commerce Clause or Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Learn more (MDM)