Advocacy News

06.23.26

Falls Church, Va. — On June 12, 2026, Governor Jeff Landry signed HB953 into law — and with it, Louisiana enacted what PHCC believes to be the most damaging rollback of plumbing licensure standards seen anywhere in the country in recent memory. For context: in 2019, the Texas Legislature nearly allowed its state plumbing licensing board to sunset entirely before Governor Greg Abbott intervened …

05.19.26

Falls Church, Va. — The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) and the American Supply Association (ASA) successfully joined forces with the 2026 PHCC-ASA Joint Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., with contractors, distributors and industry leaders delivering a ...

04.21.26

On Oct. 6, 2026, new energy conservation standards for commercial water heaters, approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) back in 2023, will come into effect. The new standards will force a significant change from the products that are currently on the market today, calling for all commercial gas water heaters to utilize condensing technology in all installations. Specifically, the DOE …

03.25.26

In Dec. 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) published a final rule to significantly tighten state regulations on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants utilized in HVACR equipment and heat pump water heaters. This measure was approved despite action by Congress that represented a compromise between environmental lobbyists and HVACR manufacturers to phase out HFC …

02.20.26

On June 1, 2023, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB23-1161 into law after it was approved by both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly. The bill encompassed sweeping appliance efficiency changes that have a significant impact on water heaters that would be shipped into the state after the beginning of 2026. Perhaps most notably, the law would effectively ban the shipment of all non …

01.22.26

As we all celebrate the New Year, many of the issues that will likely impact the space and water heating industry continue to wait to be decided in court rooms across the United States. In New York State and Washington State, there are two important matters in particular that are scheduled to be determined by the judiciary this year. First, in Mulhern Gas Co. v. Mosley, a coalition of, …

12.22.25

On Nov. 12, 2025, parties to a court case recently decided by The United States Court for the Northern District of New York, including New York State, agreed to delay the state’s all-electric new construction mandate for smaller buildings. The state policy was originally slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Currently a coalition of several groups, including contractors and the gas industry, …

11.24.25

Over the weekend of Nov. 8-9, the U.S. Senate remained on Capitol Hill to hash out a deal to end the government shutdown, securing enough Democratic support for it to pass on Sunday evening, Nov. 9 on a 60-40 vote. It went to the House where it passed on a mostly partisan basis. The main details of the agreement are as follows: A three-bill “minibus” is attached to the Continuing Resolution (CR) …

11.04.25

  2025 PHCC—National Awards 2025 Col. George D. Scott Award: Jeff Voss, Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair, Inc., Boone, North Carolina 2025 Plumbing Contractor of the Year (sponsored by Delta Faucet Co.): Ashley Stroud, Plumbing Outfitters, Taylor, Texas 2025 HVAC Contractor of the Year (sponsored by Rheem): Larry Shoemaker, Deluxe Plumbing & Heating, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 2025 Plumbing …

10.19.25

As the government shutdown lasts nearly a month, House and Senate Democrats continue to hold firm on demands for Republicans and the Trump Administration to reverse rollbacks of Medicaid cuts and Obamacare tax credits under the recently-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. There are further demands from some corners of the Democratic caucus to also reverse Federal employee layoffs instituted since …