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 DOL releasing a final rule updating its Hazard Communication Standard, EPA issuing its 2023 PRIA annual report, two upcoming ISSA webinars on recent labor laws and regulations, and more.

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

ISSA Advocacy

Hazard Communication Standard Update Improves Chemical Labeling
The U.S. Department of Labor released a final rule from its Occupational Safety and Health Administration that will update the current Hazard Communication Standard to improve the amount and quality of information on labels and safety data sheets. Aligned with the seventh revision of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, the updates take effect July 19. Learn more

EPA Issues 2023 Annual Report for PRIA 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Fiscal Year2023 Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) Annual Report, the first one published since PRIA 5 was authorized in 2022. This report describes EPA’s implementation of PRIA 5 including: tracking and status for EPA’s review of pesticide registration actions, registration review cases, process improvements relating to the review of PRIA submissions, partnership grants, and the pesticide safety education program. Learn more

Upcoming ISSA Webinars: How New Labor Laws Could Impact Your Cleaning Company
Labor is the number one issue for the cleaning industry. This webinar series at 12 pm CT on June 19 and 26 aims to ensure that you are up-to-date on the myriad of changes to labor laws and regulations that impact cleaning companies. Whether you have 10 employees or thousands, whether you are a franchise or independent, whether you subcontract or directly hire your staff, there are many changes that are likely to impact you and your company. Learn more and register

ISSA Urges Congress to Support NIOSH Funding
As part of the Friends of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, ISSA urged Congress to provide at least US$375,300,000 for the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill. Learn more

ISSA Announces Inaugural State Advocacy Leaders
ISSA is proud to announce its first State Advocacy Leaders. The association launched this “grass-tops” program in January 2024 to grow and strengthen its government-affairs efforts and further impact state and federal legislation and regulations important to the cleaning industry. Learn more

Nominate Exceptional Talent for ISSA’s Inaugural Emerging Leaders Awards
Do you know an individual with outstanding potential and a drive for innovation within the cleaning industry? Then it’s time to nominate your rising stars for the ISSA Emerging Leaders Awards. Elevate their career and contribute to the industry’s growth by putting forth your brightest talents for consideration. Submit your nomination now through July 31, and help shape the next generation of industry pioneers! Learn more

Legislative

Legislation Introduced in House to Nullify OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule
U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) led 25 of her colleagues in introducing legislation (HJ Res 147) to nullify the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) worker walkaround rule, which allows non-employees, including union representatives, plaintiffs’ attorneys, community organizers, and even competitors, to accompany OSHA inspectors on workplace-safety inspections. That rule was finalized in April and went into effect May 31. Learn more

Business Groups File Suit to Block OSHA Walkaround Rule
Business organizations filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Texas to block the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) final rule revising the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process, the National Association of Manufacturers reports. Learn more

Regulatory

EPA Halts Acceptance of Data for Pesticide Registration from Non-compliant Laboratory
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) halted the acceptance of studies generated by Palamur Biosciences Lab (Palamur) in Telangana, India, due to the possible falsification of data following an inspection by the Indian National Good Laboratory Practice Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA). These data are typically submitted by pesticide registrants or applicants as part of the pesticide registration process. At this time, EPA is not accepting any studies from this lab, and registrants should not submit any new data from this lab. Learn more

Business Groups Sue over DOL Overtime Expansion
More than a dozen businesses and industry organizations are asking a federal court to toss out a new U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that seeks to expand overtime-pay protections to about 4 million workers, Bloomberg Law reports. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Texas, argues that the regulation narrowing an exemption to overtime-pay requirements went beyond its authority under the Fair Labor Standards Act and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The business coalition requested that the court provide expedited consideration of the case given that the first phase of the rule is due to go into effect July 1. Learn more

State News

Janitorial Bills Pass CA Assembly
Two janitorial bills passed the California Assembly and are headed to the Senate, BOMA of Greater Los Angeles reports. Assembly Bill 2374 expands requirements for displaced janitors. Assembly Bill 2364 was amended to create a workforce council that can impose workforce-production limits, among other conditions. Learn more

Clarification on “Not Registered For Use in CA” and Similar Statements on Pesticide Labels
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Regulation have made recent changes to policy on state-specific language on pesticide labels. The changes are intended to reduce delays related to state-specific uses. Learn more

CA Lawmakers Move to Delay New Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage
California lawmakers may delay a planned wage increase for healthcare workers, including janitors and housekeepers, as negotiations continue over how to implement the new minimum wage law at a time when lawmakers are struggling to deal with a large budget deficit, according to The Tribune. Lawmakers moved to replace the language in Senate Bill 828 with an urgency bill that would push the date for the first in a series of pay increases from June 1 to July 1. Urgency bills take effect immediately after the governor signs them. Learn more

State PFAS Legislation
More than 80 measures dealing substantively with PFAS, otherwise known as “forever chemicals,” have been introduced in 23 states since the beginning of this year, according to the LexisNexis State Net® legislative tracking system. Seven of those states have enacted such measures. Learn more