Industry News > ISSA Leg. & Reg. Update – Passed NDAA Includes Mold-Remediation Standard

ISSA Leg. & Reg. Update – Passed NDAA Includes Mold-Remediation Standard

December 22, 2025

Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly roundup of the public-policy issues currently impacting the full cleaning and facility solutions industry. This update touches on the mold-remediation standard included in the recently passed NDAA, International Cleaning Week 2026, the latest installment of the ISSA Advocacy 101 video series, 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

Passed NDAA Includes IICRC Mold-Remediation Standard
What it means: The ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by Congress earlier this month and signed into law by President Trump on December 18. The NDAA, a bill passed annually by Congress and signed by the President, includes a provision that directs the U.S. Secretary of Defense to develop and implement guidelines for the remediation of mold in military housing, facilities, and other real property. The guidelines must be consistent with industry standards, including the S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation.
Why it matters: “This is a major step forward in protecting the health and safety of U.S. service members and their families,” said IICRC President and Board Chair James Tole. “By citing the S520 Standard in federal law, Congress has reinforced the importance of industry-drive, consensus-based standards.”
What ISSA is doing: ISSA worked with IICRC to advocate for the inclusion of the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard in the 2026 NDAA. Learn more here (IICRC) and here (CBS News)

Happy Holidays from Your ISSA Advocacy Team
As 2025 winds down, now is the perfect moment to celebrate what your support made possible for ISSA Advocacy and the cleaning and facility solutions industry this year, and to set our sights on an even bigger 2026.

Thanks to you, we delivered major wins this year, including:

  • ISSA priorities like expanding 529 accounts to cover post-secondary training and credentialing and making the small-business tax deduction permanent became law with the enactment of a landmark tax bill.
  • The ISSA-backed WIPPES Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Progress was achieved in the fight to end period poverty with two additional states—Alabama and Missouri—repealing the tampon tax.

Plus, we reached 2,600+ Advocates for Clean; achieved record attendance at our Clean Advocacy Summit; earned national, state, and local recognition for our industry during International Cleaning Week; and more.

 

In 2026, we’re gearing up to advocate for policies that:

  • Support pro-growth tax incentives for our industry
  • Oppose harmful tariffs on essential cleaning and safety materials
  • Push back on cleaning regulations not grounded in best practices
  • Expand legal pathways for essential workers
  • Create career tracks for our industry’s workforce
  • Continue the fight to end period poverty

Let’s make 2026 our most impactful year yet. Join industry leaders March 23–24 in Washington, DC for the 2026 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit and amplify the voice of the cleaning and facility solutions industry.

Happy holidays from your ISSA Advocacy Team—we can’t wait to see you in DC this spring as we continue elevating the built environment through advocacy. Early-bird registration for the 2026 summit ends January 15. Start the new year strong—reserve your spot today!


ISSA Announces 2026 International Cleaning Week
What it means: ISSA announced the return of International Cleaning Week (ICW), taking place March 22–28, 2026.
Why it matters: “International Cleaning Week reflects our shared commitment to excellence and the remarkable impact of cleaning and facility professionals worldwide,” said ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff. “I am honored to lead this vibrant community, and excited to celebrate the teams and innovators who raise the bar for healthy, safe, and sustainable environments year-round.” Learn more
What ISSA is doing: During this week-long celebration, ISSA, with our members and partners, will honor the vital work of cleaning professionals, advance industry advocacy, and recognize exemplary organizations and teams through a series of signature events, including:


ISSA Advocacy 101: The How, Where, When, & Who of ISSA Advocacy
What it means: Check out the third installment of the new ISSA Advocacy 101 video series, where ISSA Senior Government Affairs Manager Stacy Seiden provides quick insights into government affairs as it relates to the cleaning and facility solutions industry.
Why it matters: The latest Advocacy 101 addresses The How, Where, When, and Who of ISSA Advocacy. Watch the video now
What ISSA is doing: The series is intended to further educate and engage our members in ISSA Advocacy. Didn’t catch the first Advocacy 101 on What Is Advocacy? View it here. Or the second one on Why Is Advocacy Important? View it here.

Thank you to ISSA member company BradyPlus for their recent contribution to the ISSA Advocacy Fund at the Supporter level.

Additional Updates

Legislative

Congress Adjourns until 2026 with No Healthcare Deal
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives and Senate adjourned until the new year with no solution on expiring healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, meaning that insurance premiums for about 22 million Americans will rise next month. Despite opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-4-R) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD-R), some lawmakers in both parties hope that there’s still a path to act in 2026. And if that fails, Democrats say that they’re determined to wield the issue to “impose maximum political pain” on Republicans in next year’s midterm elections. Learn more (NBC News)

American Franchise Act Introduced in Senate
Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the American Franchise Act, a bipartisan bill to clarify the joint-employer standard and reshape the franchising industry. For a decade, joint-employer rules have shifted between administrations, creating ambiguity and confusion for businesses. This legislation offers “clarity and stability by establishing a clear and practical definition of the joint employer standard.” It coincides with a bipartisan bill under the same name that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in September. Learn more (Senator Marshall)

Regulatory

EPA Updates Pesticide Registration Maintenance Fee Materials
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its annual pesticide registration maintenance fees web page and fee tables. Registrants will need to access their product filing forms, pay maintenance fees, and return completed documents to EPA for processing by January 15, 2026.

The maintenance fee for fiscal year (FY) 2026 for each registered pesticide product will be US$4,875, the same amount as for FY 2025. The maintenance fee is unchanged from the FY 2025 level because collections in FY 2025 closely matched the annual average collection target of $42,000,000 specified in the Pesticide Registration and Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5) and because the number of products subject to the per product fee is not expected to significantly change.

PRIA 5 directs EPA to collect, to the extent practicable, an average amount of $42,000,000 in pesticide registration maintenance fees annually for FYs 2023-2027. PRIA maintenance fees and pesticide registration fees together account for approximately one-third of funding for pesticide program activities, with the remaining funding appropriated by Congress. Learn more (EPA)

EPA Fines Grocery Store Chains for Distributing Illegal Disinfectants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) settled with Chedraui USA Inc., doing business as El Super and Smart & Final Stores LLC, for violating federal pesticide law by distributing illegal disinfectants in their stores in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Under the settlement, Chedraui will pay a penalty of US$472,369 to resolve the claims. As a result of EPA’s action, the illegal disinfectants were removed from stores. Learn more (Cleaning & Maintenance Management)

State & Local News

CO Adds Statewide Free Recycling Access
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved the state’s new Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling, marking a major step toward free, convenient recycling for every Colorado household. The program shifts the costs of recycling from residents and local governments to the companies that produce packaging. It’s industry-funded, industry-run, and creates incentives for companies to design more sustainable and reusable packaging. Learn more (Cleaning & Maintenance Management)

Incarcerated Women Often Don’t Have Enough Period Products
A new report from the Prison Policy Initiative, a research and advocacy organization, says that menstruation is still regularly treated as a disciplinary matter—through contraband rules, work violations, and sanitation write-ups—even in prisons and jails that provide free period products. Learn more (Stateline)

LA City Council President Moves to Delay Full Olympic Wage Boost
The fight over an effort to boost wages for Los Angeles tourism workers to coincide with the 2028 Olympics has taken a new twist, with the City Council president introducing a new motion that critics say would significantly water down the measure. The issue had ostensibly been put to rest in September, when a business group-backed effort to repeal a US$30 per hour minimum wage for Los Angeles hotel and airport workers failed to secure enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

But L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson recently introduced a motion that, if approved, would phase the increase in over a longer period—delaying the full $30 hourly minimum wage until 2030. Learn more (LA Times)