It was just election season and political ads were playing in full force in homes across the nation. It is no wonder why! Between January 2023 and April 2024, U.S. political campaigns collected around $8.6 billion for the 2024 House, Senate, and presidential elections. More than 65% of that money, about $5.6 billion, came from political action committees (PACs).
Individual candidates have drawn more than $2 billion, while party committees raised just more than $929.9 million. As of October 2024, the campaigns spent approximately $3.9 billion of total funds raised. Money aside, with the control of the White House, Congress, and several state legislatures in play, ASSE/IAPMO’s Government Relations team has been busy working to make sure that our industry’s interests are represented. At the time of the writing of this report, Congress is in the final stages of negotiating a deal to keep the government funded through December, creating another funding impasse following all the election turmoil!
FEDERAL DEVELOPMENTS
We are working with key stakeholders on several legislative pieces for the next congressional session that will benefit the industry. These bills would create grants for low-income households to fix leaks and replace inefficient fixtures, create a tax credit for constructing water-efficient homes, and provide water filtration technologies to households receiving water with a known contaminant.
We’ve also submitted requests for edits to the Unified Facilitates Criteria within the U.S. Department of Defense to adopt the ASSE 5110 for Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers, ASSE 5120 for Cross-Connection Control Surveyors/Specialists, ASSE 5130 for Backflow Prevention Assembly Repairers, and ASSE 1057 for Freeze Resistant Sanitary Yard Hydrants with Backflow Protection.
STATE-LEVEL HIGHLIGHTS
Across many states, we’re working on several bills to combat Legionella and working to have ASSE Series 12000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Management and Infection Control Risk Assessment for Building Systems, referenced.
In California, we sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 1144, a water quality bill that includes reference to ASSE Series 12000, specifically highlighting ASSE 12080 certification for Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialists to address spread of legionella within state funded buildings and public schools. Unfortunately, the bill was vetoed by the governor, for potential financial impacts to school officials, after the bill successfully passed the legislature.
In Colorado, the Colorado Water Quality Commission issued proposed changes to the state’s primary drinking water regulations, which would go into effect in October 2024 and apply to all public water utilities in the state. The proposed regulation references third party certification for ANSI standards, but does not cite specific standards for water filters. A coalition of interested stakeholders met with regulators and proposed policy recommendations. Legislation was also passed to continue the functions of the state plumbing board through 2032.
The bill maintained the ASSE 6020 reference for Medical Gas Systems Inspectors (or recognized equivalent) for medical gas installations. Additionally, the bill requires those who install, remove, inspect, test, and repair a backflow prevention device to be a licensed plumber, except when installing or testing a stand-alone fire suppression sprinkler system.
In Nevada, Assembly Bill (AB) 263 would require certain health care facilities to adopt a water management plan to minimize the risk of Legionnaires disease. The legislation would recognize the ASSE Series 12000 and require that water management teams hold the certification.
The bill passed the Assembly and nearly cleared the Senate, but it ran out of time and failed to pass. Additionally, the Environmental Commission has proposed amendments to a state regulation that would recognize the ASSE 5110 certification for backflow prevention assembly testers. This proposed regulation is pending and awaiting final review by the Legislative Commission.
In New Jersey, state Sen. Teresa Ruiz’s Legionella bill (SB 2165/AB 521), minus the language that would recognize the ASSE 12000 Series, has passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on Sept. 12. We will now work to include the ASSE Series 12000 in the state’s administrative rules for implementation of the statute.
In North Carolina, House Bill (HB) 166, which, among other things, severely restricts local governments’ authority to require more rigorous backflow prevention devices in any instance, passed the legislature despite significant opposition. Gov. Cooper vetoed the legislation, but the legislature overrode the veto and the legislation has gone into effect.
These developments reflect the ongoing efforts and challenges in advancing plumbing and water safety standards nationwide. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the ASSE/IAPMO Government Relations team remains committed to advocating for strong water management and safety practices.
