Despite the calendar turning to a lighter legislative schedule and the majority of the focus shifting toward the November elections, CLA continues its strategic planning to battle ongoing threats from microfiber filtration requirements on commercial washers.
In 2023 and spring 2024 legislative sessions in both California and Illinois, CLA engaged lobbyists to support the industry’s interest in turning back legislation that would mandate each and every commercial washer sold in those states be equipped with individual microfiber/microplastics filtration systems. The efforts were successful in both states, staving off disastrous legislation on behalf of the laundromat industry – and saving millions of dollars in the process.
The association cited concerns related to the lack of readily available technical solutions, as well as the predictable increases in costs to both laundromat owners and consumers. CLA has further offered to work with legislators and interest groups to explore more workable solutions for intercepting these pollutants.
Understanding the potential long-term impacts of this type of legislation, CLA huddled with major washer manufacturers to share strategies and raise additional funding to support its efforts into next year. Valued stakeholder manufacturers – Alliance Laundry Systems, Dexter Laundry, Girbau North America, and Laundrylux – each made significant financial contributions to CLA earmarked to support the association’s lobbying efforts.
“The microfiber filtration legislation is among the toughest advocacy issues we’ve faced as an industry,” said Brian Wallace, president and CEO of CLA. “By bringing together the interests of washer manufacturers, distributors, and our owner-operator members, we can effectively communicate to legislators that the individual washer filter mandates are the worst possible solution to the problem. CLA would not be able to make the case if not for the additional financial support from these partner companies and the annual dues support from laundromat owners.”
CLA also acknowledged an important contribution from TCATA. “This issue has illustrated the value of the relationships CLA has fostered among other industry associations that have come together to provide both government affairs expertise and financial support,” Wallace added. “CLA would like to thank the TCATA staff and Board for their financial support and ongoing partnership.”
The association anticipates an active 2025 with legislation in Illinois and an opportunity to participate in study groups in California ahead of the 2026 sessions. If you have any questions on this issue or wish to contribute to the effort, please reach out to CLA at (800) 570-5629 or [email protected].
