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 impact of tariffs on the cleaning industry, an executive order that President Trump signed to improve job training for skilled trades, an industry coalition successfully advocating against a proposed antimicrobial soap ban in California, and more.

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ISSA Advocacy

The Impact of Tariffs on the Global Cleaning Industry
What it means: Tariffs are no longer a theoretical concern for the global cleaning industry–they’re a reality, reshaping how businesses source, manufacture, and distribute products. Recent policy shifts in the United States have thrown a spotlight on the fragility of global supply chains, especially as tariffs stack up on critical imports from countries like China, Canada, and Mexico. For those in the cleaning industry–from manufacturers to distributors–the challenge now is to adapt quickly while planning strategically for the future.
Why it matters: If you’re importing materials, managing inventory, or trying to stay competitive in your pricing, the impact of tariffs could be significant. This is your call to revisit every aspect of your supply chain and ensure that you’re building flexibility into your business model.
What ISSA is doing: This ISSA article breaks down the current tariff situation, its effects, and most importantly, what you can do about it: Learn more

We want to hear from you. Please contact ISSA Government Affairs Director John Nothdurft and/or ISSA Senior Government Affairs Manager Stacy Seiden to share with us how the current tariff situation is impacting your cleaning business to further inform our advocacy efforts.

Using ISSA’s Advocacy Action Center, take a moment to urge your congressional delegation to expand workforce development.

Trump Advances Training for Skilled Trades That Don’t Require College
What it means: President Trump signed an executive order to improve job training for skilled trades. The order calls on the U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education to work toward strengthening registered apprenticeships, modernizing workforce development programs, and investing in opportunities to up-skill workers to meet current labor-market demands. Learn more
Why it matters: This executive order is consistent with ISSA’s advocacy priority to ensure that the cleaning industry has the trained workforce that it needs to meet growing demand and emerging challenges. Accordingly, ISSA strongly endorses the bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (HR 1151/S 756), which would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include post-secondary training and credentialing, such as licenses and professional certifications like those used for essential cleaning workers.

With Congress discussing a broader tax package that will likely be announced over the coming months, it is paramount that the cleaning industry keeps up the pressure on congressional lawmakers to support the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA advocates have been instrumental in securing congressional co-sponsors of HR 1151/S 756. Help us garner additional support by using our Advocacy Action Center to easily urge your congressional delegation to expand workforce development. Take action now

Industry Coalition Successfully Advocates against CA’s Antimicrobial Soap Ban
What it means: In a significant victory for the cleaning industry and public health, California Assembly Bill 916, also known as the “Safer Soap Act,” failed to advance following strong opposition from a broad coalition of trade associations and industry leaders, including from ISSA.
Why it matters: The bill, which sought to ban certain antimicrobial soaps and body washes, faced substantial opposition from industry that emphasized the legislation’s potential impact on public health, food safety, and vulnerable populations.
What ISSA is doing: ISSA, along with 12 other trade organizations, played a crucial role in highlighting the potential risks and unintended consequences of the proposed legislation. John Nothdurft, Director of Government Affairs for ISSA, said, “This outcome preserves our members’ ability to continue providing essential products and services that protect public health. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of industry collaboration in addressing legislative challenges that could impact business operations and public safety.” Learn more

Five States Implementing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting
What it means: Five states are implementing laws requiring detailed greenhouse gas emissions reporting. California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Colorado have established timelines for implementation, according to Cleaning & Maintenance Management.
Why it matters: “This coordinated push represents a significant advancement in corporate environmental transparency and sustainability requirements,” report Brad Molotsky and Duane Morris, attorneys active in helping organizations execute sustainability programs.
What ISSA is doing: According to Steve Ashkin of The Ashkin Group and Co-Chair of ISSA’s Sustainability Committee, “This wave of disclosure requirements is a pivotal moment for businesses of all sizes, including those in the professional cleaning industry. ISSA members, whether directly reporting or supplying to larger companies, must now begin collecting environmental data to ensure compliance. This will also help them leverage sustainability initiatives as a strategic advantage.” Learn more

Webinar: What’s up with Disinfectant Towelettes?
Join us for this June 19 ISSA webinar, in which Rhonda Jones, CEO/Founder of Scientific & Regulatory Consultants, will provide an overview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newly proposed changes in the regulation of disinfectant towelettes.
Why you should attend: As the EPA intends this guidance and methods to replace its long-standing policies for disinfectant towelettes, Rhonda will compare and contrast the changes to current practices to illustrate how these changes will impact registrants and users. She will also discuss the public comments on the draft guidance and their potential impact on the EPA’s final policy, which is expected later in 2025. Learn more and register

Additional Updates

Regulatory & Judicial

DOL Issues Guidance on Independent Contractor Misclassification Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance on how to determine employee or independent contractor status when enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act. While the department reviews the 2024 final rule, Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which is also being challenged in federal court, agency investigators are directed not to apply the 2024 rule’s analysis in current enforcement matters. Learn more

Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlined upcoming agency actions to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Cleaning & Maintenance Management reports. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a list of actions that include: the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines for certain PFAS to stop these “forever chemicals” from entering drinking water systems, as well as initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures that “the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.” Learn more

China Low-value Package Tariff Exemption Ends
The Trump administration ended U.S. duty-free access for low-value shipments–“de minimis” exemptions–from China and Hong Kong on May 2. The action restores an executive order from President Trump in February that was quickly suspended due to a lack of screening procedures for sub-US$800 shipments, according to Reuters. Learn more

12 States Sue to Block New Tariffs
A dozen states sued President Trump and his administration, seeking a court order declaring that his new tariffs on imports are illegal, CNBC reports. Learn more

OSHA Publishes 2024 Workplace Injury, Illness Data
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released 2024 workplace injury and illness data collected from its Injury Tracking Application, according to Occupational Health & Safety. Under federal recordkeeping rules, employers are required to electronically submit injury and illness data to OSHA. Learn more

Legislative

Senate Rejects Bill to Rein in Tariffs
A narrowly divided U.S. Senate rejected the latest bipartisan effort to block President Trump’s tariffs, after the federal government reported that the nation’s economy contracted for the first time in three years amid the uncertainty surrounding the President’s tariff policies, Reuters reports. Learn more

State News

WA, MD Pass Packaging EPR Bills
Legislatures in Washington state and Maryland passed extended producer responsibility (EPR) bills for packaging, bringing to seven the number of states with plastics-related EPR, if the governors in each state sign the respective measures. The Washington legislation, SB 5284, mandates that companies cover 90% of curbside recycling costs by 2030 and aims to raise the recycling rates from 40% to 66%. The Maryland bill, SB 901, requires companies to reimburse 50% of recycling costs by 2028 and 90% by 2030.

TX Joins States Seeking to Ban Non-competes
New York, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, and Wyoming have all introduced–or enacted–legislation in 2025 aimed at limiting non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants. Texas recently joined this growing list of states when the Texas legislature introduced Texas House Bill 4067. If enacted, HB 4067 would amend Texas’s Business & Commerce Code to broadly prohibit non-competes against all “workers” and prohibit non-competes with “senior executives” after September 1, 2025, The National Law Review reports. Learn more