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Driving Positive Policy

New presidential administrations often usher in a wave of regulatory change, sometimes without understanding the impact on industries like professional pest management. Critical advocates like NPMA remain at the center of these conversations, ensuring operators’ voices are heard.   

Megan Striegel, Senior Director of Public Policy, NPMA 

NPMA remains firmly committed to advocating on behalf of the professional pest management industry as President Donald Trump’s second term reaches the end of its first year. From sponsoring the Bipartisan Inaugural Agriculture Ball last January to supporting key nominees for political appointments, NPMA has ensured our industry is known to decision-makers in Washington.   

The events of 2025 emphasized the importance of a strong, strategic voice for professional pest management in our nation’s capital. Our navigation of a shifting regulatory landscape brought on with a new administration, in addition to influence around budget decisions and preparation for the eventual introduction of the Farm Bill, showcases NPMA’s continued promise to be at the center of critical conversations that will have the power to impact our industry nationwide for the year ahead and beyond.   

Through the Regulatory Lens 

NPMA is actively engaging with newly appointed officials across several key federal agencies, including the White House Office of Public Liaison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). These efforts ensure that decision-makers are informed about the realities of the pest management industry before introducing policies that could directly affect business operations and regulatory compliance. 

The administration’s transition during the early months of Trump’s second term resulted in temporary slowdowns in major regulatory decisions. Two significant reviews, of rodenticides and of sulfuryl fluoride, were among those delayed. These products are critical tools in the pest management toolbox, especially for urban rodent control and fumigation for stored-product pests.  

Rather than wait for activity, NPMA adapted by expanding our advocacy beyond our traditional channels. This included establishing new relationships with the USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy and with USFWS personnel responsible for carrying out formal Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations on pesticide use.  

Moving forward, all new and re-registered pesticides will have ESA mitigations listed on the label. The findings from formal consultations are important, as they will determine whether a pesticide is likely to adversely affect threatened or endangered species and/or their habitats.  

To date, consultations have been completed on chemistries used in agriculture and turf or ornamental settings. The upcoming rodenticides consultation will be one of the first completed for chemistry used by our industry, and the outcome will dictate how and where these products can be used.  

It is critical that regulators understand our industry’s use patterns before making these decisions, and NPMA is positioned to be a trusted and credible resource—an essential move to safeguard our members’ ability to operate.  

From the Halls of Congress 

Over on Capitol Hill, the Senate has been navigating a high-stakes confirmation process, resulting in a wave of key political appointments. Of particular importance to NPMA and the pest management industry were the confirmations of several top officials:  

  • Lee Zeldin, EPA administrator
  • Brooke Rollins, USDA secretary 
  • Dudley Hoskins, USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs 

These agency leaders will be responsible for executing pesticide law under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and other regulatory statutes. Their perspectives on environmental regulation, agriculture, and chemical safety will shape how policies are written, implemented, and enforced. NPMA will continue engaging with these government agencies, ensuring that new leadership knows the importance of the professional pest management industry and understands the real-world impact of federal policy decisions, especially when it comes to product registrations and enforcement priorities.  

One of the most important victories of the year came when NPMA successfully opposed a proposed elimination of State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG) funding from the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, which was proposed in the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request. This funding is vital for supporting pesticide oversight and enforcement at the state level. Without it, state agencies could lose the capacity to ensure compliance, offer license testing and certification training, investigate misuse, and maintain public trust in pest control practices. 

Because state agencies are legally prohibited from lobbying Congress, NPMA stepped in as the voice of reason. Through targeted outreach and coordination with key lawmakers, NPMA successfully argued for the restoration of STAG funds. Ultimately, both chambers agreed to maintain the program at the FY2025 funding level. This effort displayed the duality of NPMA’s federal advocacy: While we are focused on championing our industry’s key priorities, we can also defend the regulatory infrastructure that keeps our industry functioning.  

Late in the summer of 2025, Congress passed the sweeping reconciliation measure known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which concluded months of intense negotiations. The bill included more than $1 trillion in cuts across federal programs and deeply affected certain nutrition assistance initiatives overseen by the House Agriculture Committee. However, it also extended funding for core agricultural programs through 2026. As both parties look for policy wins that will earn favor in the midterm elections, momentum is growing behind a full reauthorization of the Farm Bill—an opportunity that could benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including NPMA. 

NPMA is focused on advancing our top legislative priority, which is the inclusion of state pesticide preemption language in the next Farm Bill. Such language would help ensure that pesticide regulation remains consistent nationwide, reinforcing the authority of FIFRA. 

State pesticide preemption ensures that regulatory authority within a state remains at the state agency level, preventing a patchwork of conflicting local ordinances, which would disrupt consistency, hinder science-based regulations, and create significant compliance challenges for pest management professionals.  

As we start the second year of the Trump Administration, NPMA will continue to advocate for regulatory clarity and science-based policy, working closely with federal agencies and lawmakers to ensure that the pest management industry’s voice remains at the table in every critical conversation. 

Make Our Collective Voice Heard  

NPMA’s annual March Legislative Day Conference is a premier federal advocacy event that brings together hundreds of pest management professionals from across the country to engage directly with lawmakers and advocate for policies that protect our industry and public health. 

As we finalize preparations for this year’s event, we encourage both returning attendees and first-time participants to join us in Washington, D.C. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen the valuable connections we’ve made with elected officials and ensure that issues like state pesticide preemption remain a top priority on Capitol Hill. 

In past years, our presence in Washington has helped elevate this issue and shape the policy conversation. Let’s make sure our voice continues to be heard. 

2026 Federal and State Elections: How Will They Impact Our Advocacy?  

The midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, could significantly reshape the political landscape at both the federal and state levels. While midterms typically experience lower voter turnout than presidential years, the stakes in 2026 are unusually high. Narrow margins in both the U.S. House and Senate mean that even minor shifts in voter sentiment could dramatically impact the balance of power—and with it, the direction of regulatory and legislative priorities that affect the pest management industry. 

In Washington, Republicans are focused on defending their current trifecta while seeking to expand their majorities in the House and Senate. A larger cushion in either chamber would allow them to pass legislation more easily, removing internal divisions that slowed their efforts in 2025. Meanwhile, Democrats are focused on flipping control of at least one chamber of Congress to bring the president’s legislative priorities to a halt and regain power in setting the legislative agenda. 

Several Senate races are already shaping up to be competitive, particularly in Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. The future of the Senate will be determined by just a handful of these toss-up races.  

On the House side, a record number of retirements are accelerating political turnover. At least 21 members have announced their intent not to run for reelection. These open seats present both risks and opportunities as new and unfamiliar legislators will come into play.  

For members of the professional pest management industry, changes in the makeup of Congress can directly influence key issues, including:  

  • State pesticide preemption 
  • Small business tax reforms
  • Federal and state pesticide regulation funding 
  • Labor and workforce policy 

While all eyes are often focused on Capitol Hill, the real action lies in the states. In the 2026 elections, 36 states will hold gubernatorial elections, including 15 open-seat races, where no incumbent is running due to term limits. As governors play a direct role in state policymaking by signing or vetoing legislation and setting regulatory priorities, these races could have a direct impact on our industry.  

Even in states where we have historically enjoyed stable, science-based regulatory environments, that stability is not guaranteed moving forward. Incoming governors, regardless of their party affiliation, will bring their own priorities and beliefs into office. Whether it’s a major deregulation effort like we’ve seen in Indiana over the past year by Gov. Mike Braun, or an attempt to move away from critical pest management tools like we saw in Colorado, our industry must be prepared to engage wherever we find ourselves.  

Before a bill reaches the governor’s desk, it must first pass the state legislature. With more than 80% of the nation’s state legislative seats up for election, this November will be significant as we see state governments increasingly becoming the drivers of meaningful policy change where federal government is inactive. Last year, state legislatures introduced more than 200 bills that would have affected the pest control industry, and we expect to see more bills in the 2026 session.  

From restrictions on pesticide use and licensing requirements to proposed regulations around wildlife management and integrated pest management standards in schools, states are the testing ground for aggressive pesticide policy. This is why the work of our state associations and, specifically, the State Policy Affairs Representatives (SPARs) is so critical. As the front-line advocates for the industry, SPARs build relationships with lawmakers, monitor key developments, and position themselves as trusted subject matter experts throughout the legislative process.