The Legislative Landscape Right Now

For wide-format and signage printers and installers, staying on top of evolving legislation and regulations will ensure maintaining profitability and margins in a challenging landscape.

With 2026 now in full swing, it’s a good time to reflect on both the legislative and regulatory landscape we left behind in 2025, and what is coming in the next 12-18 months that printers — especially signage and wide-format printers and installers — need to be aware of. Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager at PRINTING United Alliance, sat down with Wide-format Impressions to chat about just that, tracking what she and the rest of the advocacy team at the Alliance are watching, what they’re actively working on, and what potential speedbumps she sees on the local, national, and international levels.

Wide-format Impressions: As we look back on 2025, what have been the biggest legislative and/or regulatory issues that impacted the signage and graphics market? 

Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager, PRINTING United Alliance

Stephanie Buka: In 2025, tariff uncertainty complicated wide-format quoting and project planning by driving sudden swings in the cost and availability of key inputs, particularly aluminum-related framing, mounting hardware, and imported components.

In 2025, the headline development was the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff increase to 50% (with a UK exception framework), which pushed many businesses to adjust pricing strategies, shorten quote windows, and confirm materials earlier to protect margins and timelines. Tariffs create ongoing uncertainty that disrupts supply chains, delays projects, and raises costs, especially for the American manufacturers and small businesses that form the backbone of the printing industry. The government affairs team works collaboratively with the Tariff Reform Coalition to advocate for an end to Section 232 tariffs and broad-based tariffs.

WFI: Looking ahead, what are the biggest issues you are watching and/or are concerned about for 2026? 

SB: Tariffs will likely remain a central feature of the administration’s trade policy, so we should expect continued activity in that area. We may see the administration roll back some tariffs on steel and aluminum since the Commerce Department has acknowledged that the tariffs are hurting consumers by raising the prices of goods, but this is uncertain. The Alliance will continue to track and report on any developments.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will remain a major issue in 2026 as more state programs move into implementation and introduce new registration and reporting deadlines

that shift waste-management responsibility onto producers. For wide-format printers, staying ahead of state-specific requirements can help avoid penalties, and may also provide a competitive and reputational boost as customers prioritize sustainability. With no federal EPR law in place, the state-by-state patchwork is likely to expand, which is why the Alliance supports a national framework to create consistent, streamlined requirements.

Consumer data privacy is another evolving issue. At least 20 states have enacted comprehensive data privacy laws, and 2026 is shaping up as a heavier enforcement year. This matters whenever wide-format campaigns connect to QR codes, geofenced promos, beacons, or other tracking/attribution that can become “personal data” in practice. Customers may scrutinize data practices and print service providers may be asked to confirm what’s collected and where that data goes. The Alliance has long advocated for a national data privacy bill to eliminate the patchwork of state laws.

We will also be closely watching OSHA’s proposed heat rule. It would impact wide-format businesses and installers, creating expectations in the workplace around heat injury and illness prevention plans. The Alliance supports H.R.6213, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, which is currently in the House Committee on Education and Workforce. The bill aims to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed OSHA rule for heat injury and illness prevention in both outdoor and indoor settings. The proposed OSHA Heat Standard is especially challenging for small businesses that lack dedicated compliance and HR staff. It imposes a rigid, one-size-fits-all requirement that may be impractical in many workplaces and could disrupt operations. The standard also overlooks existing employer-led heat safety efforts and could add costly burdens that hurt competitiveness, potentially forcing some smaller firms to close or consolidate.

This year, the Alliance will be advocating for an improvement to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ensure a regulatory system that balances human health and environmental concerns with domestic manufacturing needs. Gary Jones, vice president of EHS Affairs, reports that one of the most significant challenges with TSCA today is the extraordinary delay in approving new chemicals. What should be a 90‑day review can stretch into years, creating a regulatory bottleneck that discourages innovation. A draft discussion bill is under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Alliance shared a policy brief with lawmakers to ensure the printing industry’s position on TSCA reform is part of the conversation.

WFI: How will these regulations/laws impact wide-format and signage printers specifically? Is it the same for the industry as a whole, or are there any specific elements this segment should be paying attention to? 

SB: These policy issues impact the entire printing industry; however, the wide-format community should pay attention to how these policies intersect with installation and field work, large-format materials and finishing processes, and hardware-heavy supply chains, which can amplify impacts on job costing, lead times, permitting risk, and documentation requirements compared with other print segments. 

WFI: What steps, if any, should wide-format printers take now to prepare for any changes in the coming year? In the coming five years? 

SB: Wide-format printers should focus on building flexibility into pricing and contracts, so quotes can absorb cost swings without eroding margins. At the same time, they should strengthen supply-chain resilience by diversifying key inputs and tighten forecasting so materials are secured earlier and substitutions are pre-approved. Over the next year, prioritize low-lift compliance readiness by organizing documentation, improving basic operational safeguards, and keeping safety programs practical and well-documented.

Over the next five years, they should invest in repeatable systems and AI-enabled tools — standardized materials data, scalable compliance workflows, smarter estimating and scheduling, predictive maintenance, and more automated customer proofing and production tracking — to stay efficient and adaptable as requirements and market expectations evolve.

WFI: Do you foresee the biggest changes coming on the local or national level when it comes to laws and/or regulations for the sign and graphics market? Why? Are there any international issues printers should be paying attention to that could impact their business?

SB: Local is where you’ll feel the most day-to-day change. Most of what determines whether a sign/graphic can be installed is still driven by municipal/city/county codes, permitting practices, zoning, enforcement priorities, and litigation risk, especially as communities keep updating sign ordinances to stay on the right side of First Amendment rules for “content-neutral” regulation.

National is where you’ll see fewer rules, but bigger swings when they hit. In 2026, the national issues with the most potential to ripple across wide-format operations include tariffs and the uncertainty around Section 232 actions, as well as the OSHA proposed heat rule.

Internationally, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been delayed — now expected to apply December 30, 2026 for large/medium operators, and June 30, 2027 for small/micro operators — but it is already driving supplier questionnaires, especially for paper- and wood-based products. The rule covers wood products sold into the EU, regardless of origin, and would require strict due diligence and traceability, including geolocation data. The Alliance was pleased about the delay; however, it doesn’t address our concern that the compliance requirements remain complex and create significant technical barriers. Additionally, U.S. fiber inputs are already subject to strong controls, and we do not believe the U.S. should be considered as a country contributing to deforestation.

WFI: Is there anything else you would like to add?

SB: I’d like to thank our members for supporting our federal and state advocacy efforts and encourage everyone to visit the Alliance’s Advocacy Center for ways to get involved. Together, we can reinforce the message that print is relevant, sustainable, innovative, and an economic driver in the United States.