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 International Cleaning Week 2026, EPA seeking public comment on proposed guidance for pesticide registrants, staying compliant in Washington State, 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

ICW26 Starts Soon: Advocate, Celebrate, and Elevate Clean
International Cleaning Week, March 22–28, is almost here! How will you and your business celebrate the value of clean? ISSA has simple, high-impact ways for you to make ICW26 count:

 🏛️ Advocate in DC
Join us March 23–24 at the 2026 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC—the premier fly-in for the cleaning and facility solutions industry. Get inside-the-Beltway insights into federal policies affecting your cleaning business, meet with your congressional delegation during our signature Hike the Hill, celebrate industry leaders at the inaugural International Cleaning Week Awards Dinner, and more!

The early-bird rate ends this Thursday, January 15, and space is limited. Register for the summit now & save

The official 2026 Cleaning Week proclamation signed by Governor Kemp of Georgia. Thank you to the Governor and ISSA State Advocacy Leader W. Gregory Cox for securing the proclamation.

📜 Secure a Cleaning Week proclamation in your state
Help ISSA elevate the value of clean nationwide by requesting an official state Cleaning Week proclamation. Nearly every state offers a free online submission and ISSA has already done the heavy lifting with a ready-to-use template.

Submit by February 13 to help us reach our goal of proclaiming a Cleaning Week in all 50 states. Interested in helping? Learn more here and/or contact ISSA’s Stacy Seiden.

💡 Get inspired
Jump-start your ICW26 planning with actionable ideas during our free webinar How to Leverage International Cleaning Week 2026 on January 28. Register now for the free webinar.

Thank you for helping elevate our industry and the value of clean during ICW26!

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Guidance for Pesticide Registrants to Improve Efficiencies on Notifications and Minor Amendments Submitted to the Agency
What it means: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment proposed updates to Pesticide Registration Notice (PRN) 98-10, Notifications, Non-notifications and Minor Formulation Amendments. The new draft would update guidance for registrants submitting minor modifications to a registration that does not require extensive EPA review. These modifications do not have any substantive impact on the use or safety of a pesticide. The proposed changes will not impact any procedures for the review of information related to environmental or human health.
Why it matters: The proposed guidance is highly relevant for and should be of great interest to formulators of disinfectants and other EPA-registered products.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA intends to submit comments to EPA on these proposed updates. Comments are due February 19, 2026. Learn more (Federal Register)

Staying Compliant in Washington State: Product Reports Due Jan. 31
What it means: Starting January 1, cleaning-products manufacturers and distributors that sell/distribute their products in Washington State must submit product reports for consumer products that contain intentionally added priority chemicals and have reached their compliance deadline. In Washington, this includes products for Safer Products for Washington and the Children’s Safe Products Act. These product reports cover products from the previous calendar year (2025) and must be reported using the Interstate Chemical Clearinghouse’s High Priority Chemical Data System by January 31, 2026.
Why it matters: Non-compliance may result in significant civil penalties. Learn more about specific enforcement and penalties here.
What ISSA is doing: Here are the implications for cleaning-products manufacturers, distributors, etc. under the Washington State Safer Products for Washington Act.

Additional Updates

Legislative

House Passes ACA Subsidies; Bill’s Fate Unclear in Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a three-year extension of Obamacare subsidies, sending the bill to the Senate, where the legislation faces an uphill climb. Seventeen Republicans joined all Democrats voting in favor of the bill, which passed 230-196. Learn more (CNBC)

House Passes Spending Package; Lawmakers Work to Avoid Another Shutdown
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan package of three spending bills that would fund parts of the federal government through September, demonstrating the eagerness of lawmakers to avoid another government shutdown near the end of the month. Congress has so far passed only three of the 12 annual spending bills that fund federal agencies for the current fiscal year. Failure to pass the remainder before a January 30 deadline risks another shutdown just weeks after the record-setting, 43-day shutdown that occurred late last year.

Leaders from both parties endorsed the latest measure, signaling that passage is likely in the Senate as well, belatedly getting Congress “halfway home” in completing their work on this year’s spending legislation. The White House also endorsed the measure, calling it a “fiscally responsible bill.” The package covers such agencies as the U.S. Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Departments of Commerce and Justice. It passed by an overwhelming vote of 397-28, an unusual display of unity when it comes to government spending. Learn more (CNBC)Regulatory

DOL Offers Guidance on Federal Labor Laws, Including Bonus Pay
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued six opinion letters designed to “promote clarity, consistency, and transparency in the application of federal labor standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).” The opinion letters provide official written interpretations from the department that address real-world questions and explain how laws apply to specific factual circumstances presented by individuals or organizations. Learn more (Cleaning & Maintenance Management)

Federal PFAS Action May Slow—Not State Efforts, Litigation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeks to roll back limits on certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, as well as some reporting requirements for manufacturers and importers. However, state efforts to regulate PFAS show no signs of abating. Learn more (Chemical & Engineering News)

State News

Twenty-two States Raise Minimum Wage
Nearly two dozen states and Washington, DC will raise their minimum wages in 2026 at a time when many Americans are concerned about affordability. Millions of Americans could soon receive higher paychecks as 22 states and the District of Columbia raise their hourly minimum wages. Those states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. In some areas, the higher rates will be more than double the current federal minimum wage, which was set at US$7.25 an hour in 2009. The highest minimum wage will be in DC at $17.95 an hour. Learn more (Hawaii News Now)

Top Issues for State Lawmakers in 2026
If there’s anything predictable about 2026, it’s unpredictability, especially after President Trump signed an executive order last month aimed at undoing the work that state lawmakers completed on arguably their top priority for both 2024 and 2025—regulating artificial intelligence. As noted in this article, a lot more action on AI is expected under a capitol dome near you, assuming that state legislators continue to take action on the issue despite the President’s new order. Learn more (Lexis Nexis)