As the 2025 state legislative season winds down, most legislatures have adjourned while Congress in Washington, D.C., remains gridlocked in partisan debates over a proposed tax bill, attempts to rescind previously appropriated funding, and the need to pass appropriations bills ahead of the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. While most state sessions have concluded, legislative activity has remained high: more than 246,000 bills were introduced nationwide during the 2023-24 sessions, continuing a trend of increased output. Although totals for 2025 are still being finalized, the year has presented both promising opportunities and notable challenges. Throughout these debates, IAPMO and ASSE’s Government Relations team has remained at the forefront, engaging with policymakers and stakeholders to advance sound plumbing standards, professional certification, and public health protections.
At the federal level, the first 120 days of the Trump administration have marked a significant policy shift centered on deregulation, domestic manufacturing, and energy production. Executive orders targeting immigration, trade, and environmental rules have set a new tone in Washington. Against this backdrop, we have worked diligently to defend programs critical to water safety and efficiency. We’ve partnered with industry allies to advocate continued funding for EPA’s WaterSense program and NIST’s Plumbing Research Program, both of which face potential cuts in a budget proposal that also reduces water infrastructure funding at EPA and facility programs across federal agencies such as the Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Department of State. Emphasizing the high impact, cost effectiveness, and public benefit of these programs, we continue to urge Congress to maintain funding.
Other priorities have included supporting legislative efforts to protect copyright for standards developers, expanding access to water filtration technologies in homes with known contaminants, and revising a regulation that currently classifies water treatment technologies as pesticidal devices.
Across the states, we have continued to focus on inclusion of industry standards and third-party certifications in legislation targeting lead, PFAS, and Legionella mitigation, with particular emphasis on adoption of ASSE Series 12000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Management and Infection Control Risk Assessment for Building Systems.
In California, ASSE pressed the State Water Resources Control Board for formal recognition as a backflow prevention assembly tester certification body. Following testimony and sustained advocacy, the board officially recognized ASSE 5110 certification for backflow prevention testers on June 17. Work continues to ensure fair treatment and communication with local jurisdictions. Meanwhile, AB 306, a bill proposing a six year moratorium on new building code adoptions, was amended to address concerns of environmental interests and skilled trades to restrict the bill’s scope to codes outside of the regular cycle.
In Colorado, legislators addressed industry challenges stemming from 2024’s licensure law requiring anyone installing, removing, inspecting, testing, or repairing backflow prevention devices/assemblies to be licensed plumbers (except for stand-alone fire suppression systems). HB25-1077, signed into law this year, restores exemptions for those inspecting, testing, or repairing backflow devices while maintaining licensure for installation or removal. Effective July 1, 2025, it also requires service technicians to affix a credential tag when working on devices. Another measure extended the state plumbing board through 2032, maintaining reference to ASSE 6020 for medical gas inspectors.
In Massachusetts, testimony was submitted to support HB991/SB631, which aims to ensure clean drinking water in schools.
In Michigan, a letter was sent to state officials following a confirmed Legionnaires’ case at the MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland, offering ASSE’s technical guidance and prevention support.
In Missouri, HB 995, which sought to address water quality and contaminant remediation in schools, attracted broad stakeholder support and had the potential for stipulated ASSE standards to be incorporated as proposed amendments, but ultimately stalled in the House.
In Ohio, detection of Legionella bacteria in the Cuyahoga County Justice Center prompted an ASSE letter to local and state leaders offering resources to strengthen mitigation and prevention practices.
In Texas, HB 4293 and its companion SB 2702 sought to streamline requirements by allowing ASSE 5000 backflow certification in lieu of duplicative state licenses. While the Senate passed the measure unanimously, the House failed to advance it. Separately, HB 3214, reducing journeyman experience requirements for a master plumber license from four years to two, was signed into law and takes effect Sept. 1.
Taken together, these developments illustrate a dynamic legislative landscape where plumbing codes, standards, and certifications remain central to public health and infrastructure policy. As both federal and state governments set their priorities, IAPMO and ASSE will continue to ensure that the plumbing industry’s expertise informs decisions that safeguard communities.
