Legislative

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

On March 15, 2023, the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal from their staff to require all residential water heaters in their jurisdiction emit zero NOx emissions after January 1, 2027. Since that time, various stakeholders have been working with BAAD to explain the multitude of challenges in enacting this policy, particularly as it relates to existing …

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

Prior to the federal government’s shutdown stalemate, Congress took initial steps toward modifying how federally regulated appliances are treated by government at all levels. On September 16, 2025, the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a public hearing on several pieces of legislation that would amend federal law in this area. Notably, two bills stood out: …

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 …

10.02.25

October 1, 2025, Washington, DC - Plumbing and HVAC contractors are feeling financial strain as homeowners and small businesses pull back on building repairs and improvements that maintain the resilience and value of their properties. This is a critical indicator of the direction in which our delicate economy is headed without a concerted effort to bring inflation under control and provide the …

09.25.25

On Friday morning, Sept. 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding measure to keep the federal government open through Nov. 21, averting an Oct. 1 shutdown and buying time for lawmakers to negotiate a longer-term deal to fund government operations through FY26. The House passed the measure on a near-partisan 217-212 vote. The measure immediately went to the Senate where it …

08.24.25

House Republicans under Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have been in talks over the summer to draft another reconciliation bill. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: Reconciliation in Congress is a means for the majority party to aggregate its budgetary priorities into a legislative vehicle. This is important because the Senate requires 60 votes (known as “cloture”) to debate on any legislation; cloture is not …

08.22.25

More than 20 expert-led education sessions and roundtable discussions for the plumbing and HVAC/R industries at CONNECT 2025. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) announces that PHCC CONNECT 2025 will feature an expanded schedule of interactive educational ...