Policy shifts reshape the tile roofing landscape

By Tile Roofing Industry Alliance. 

From Capitol Hill negotiations to OSHA rulemaking, new federal developments are creating ripple effects that tile roofing professionals cannot afford to ignore. 

As Washington recalibrates budgets, agency leadership and regulatory priorities, the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA) is closely tracking the policy shifts poised to influence contractors, manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. From tax provisions that impact commercial roofing investments to proposed labor standards that could redefine jobsite requirements, TRIA continues to position the tile roofing sector at the center of critical legislative conversations, ensuring its members remain informed, represented and prepared for what comes next. 

Government shutdown ends 

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended November 12 with eight Democrats joining Republicans in the Senate for a bill to reopen.  Democrats had demanded Biden-era Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that expire December 1 be renewed by withholding Senate votes for a House-passed Continuing Resolution.  The bill brokered by Senate Republicans extends federal funding through January 30 for most programs and September 30 (the end of FY25) for three appropriations bills: Agriculture, Military Construction and Legislative Branch.  Despite the shutdown ploy, Democrats failed to get an extension of the ACA subsidies nor $1.5 trillion of additional spending they wanted.  Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith explained the ACA subsidies’ costs and fraud on Nov. 30’s FNC Sunday Morning Futures (If Covid Subsidies Can't Expire, Budget Cuts Are Impossible) and Republicans are working on a health care package with market reforms. 

Trump administration staffing 

November saw a number of agency leaders sworn in at the Dept. of Labor (DOL) including Dave Keeling (OSHA), Jonathan Berry (Solicitor) and Andrew Rogers (Wage and Hour Division). 

IRS inflation adjustments for 2026 

An IRS Bulletin for 2026 inflation adjustments (attached) includes Sec.179 (page 703) which will be $2,560,000 for the expensing cap. Sec. 179 applies to commercial roofing per the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

U.S. Chamber’s Labor Relations Committee 

The U.S. Chamber’s Labor Relations Committee met November 6-7 with the OSHA, NLRA, Immigration and EEOC subcommittees meeting November 6.  OSHA’s proposed Heat Standard dominated the OSHA subcommittee with a focus on why replicating the Silica Rule’s Table 1 engineering controls in the Heat Standard is a bad idea.  

Bill introduced to stop OSHA Heat Standard 

On November 20, Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) introduced the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 which would prevent OSHA’s proposed Heat Standard from being finalized.  At a fundraising breakfast I attended for Rep. Messmer, he said he’d introduce the bill after being told by White House staff that President Trump would sign it. 

WIRT breakfast with Rep. Sheri Biggs 

Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC) was the speaker at a November 20 Washington Industrial Roundtable breakfast I attended (photo attached).  Biggs is on the Homeland Security; Foreign Affairs; and Science, Space and Technology Committees. 

Original article source: Tile Roofing Industry Alliance