State & Federal Policy
From federal reform to state-level action, we’re fighting for
greater public awareness, stronger laws, and the research needed to protect every family’s health with safe indoor air quality.
The Issue: Mold & Water
Damage Is an Overlooked,
Dismissed, and Underfunded
Public Health Issue
Mold and moisture problems can happen in any building, in any state—regardless of climate, construction method, or age. In fact, the CDC/NIOSH estimates that nearly one in two homes in the United States are affected by indoor dampness and mold. Making matters worse, much of this damage hides behind walls, under floors, and in hard-to-reach places like attics and crawlspaces, making it easy to overlook and even easier to dismiss as simply a “cosmetic” issue.
However, exposure to mold and water-damaged buildings can have serious health consequences including respiratory illness, autoimmune conditions, cognitive and neurological effects, mental health impacts, and even cancer. These are preventable outcomes tied directly to the places where we all live and work.
Making matters worse, the inspection and remediation industries are largely unregulated. In fact, only seven states require mold inspectors or remediators to hold any form of license or certification, meaning most operate with no required training, no minimum competency, and no oversight for consumer protection. This means wildly different practices can pass for “inspections” and “remediations”—leaving families vulnerable to incomplete, ineffective, and even unsafe practices.
One of the greatest public health threats of our time is unfolding inside the very places we hope and trust to keep us safe. It’s time to put mold and water damage on the same playing field as lead, asbestos, and radon.
SEE WHERE WE’RE WORKING — AND WHAT YOUR STATE IS DOING
Use our interactive map to explore where we’re actively working, the bills we’ve helped propose, and the laws we’ve helped pass. Click on your state to see existing indoor air quality protections and get direct links to contact your state and federal representatives. Do you want to help see the laws change in your state? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities below.
State Bills Passed Into Law
CONNECTICUT · ILLINOIS
STATE BILLS PROPOSED
COLORADO · CONNECTICUT · FLORIDA (2) · HAWAII
· ILLINOIS · IOWA (2)
· OHIO (3) · PENNSYLVANIA
· WEST VIRGINIA(2)
FEDERAL BILLS PROPOSED
STATES WE HAVE WORKED IN
ARIZONA · CALIFORNIA · COLORADO · CONNECTICUT · FLORIDA · HAWAII · ILLINOIS · IOWA · MASSACHUSETTS · MICHIGAN · NEW JERSEY · NEW YORK · NORTH CAROLINA · OHIO · OREGON · PENNSYLVANIA · TEXAS · VERMONT · VIRGINIA · WASHINGTON · WASHINGTON DC · WEST VIRGINIA · WISCONSIN
OUR POLICY PRIORITIES
These priorities guide our state and federal advocacy efforts as we work to strengthen standards, increase oversight, and protect families.
"It's time to put mold and water damage on the same playing field as lead, asbestos, and radon."
Brandon Chappo, Director of Public Policy, Change the Air Foundation
Mold in the Military
Every military family deserves a safe home. Together, we can make it happen.
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Change the Air Foundation works alongside passionate volunteers to bring their voices directly to legislators, ensuring the stories and struggles of real families are impossible to ignore. These volunteers are the heartbeat of our movement—meeting with legislators, sharing their experiences, and pushing for indoor air quality laws and protections that every community deserves.
Policy volunteers Patrick Lee, Ryan Schnack and Dan Khwaja pose alongside Illinois State Representative Nabeela Syed after advocating for Illinois HB 4476 during its successful committee hearing.
Military spouses Erica Thompson and
Jackie Talarico met with lawmakers to advocate for safer housing conditions for military families.
Our Director of Public Policy, Brandon Chappo outside the United Nations High-Level Event “Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action” in New York City, representing Change the Air Foundation and elevating our community’s voice on the world stage
Military spouse Erica Thompson, along with her children, met with Rep. Jack Bergman to push for critical amendments to this years National Defense Authorization Act.
Help us change the laws so we can change the air.
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