On Jan. 25, Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration member Joe Arrigo appeared in front of a Colorado Senate committee to testify on behalf on House Bill 06-1006, a bill concerning referrals by insurance companies to personal property repair businesses.

The bill "would directly impact restoration work in the state" according to the ASCR. Some of the bills provisions include:

• An insurer or its agent that issues or renews a personal property policy may not directly or indirectly require that appraisals or repairs be made by specified repair businesses.

• Insurance companies may not contract with a person or company to manage, handle or arrange for insurance repair work at a particular price predetermined by the insurer, or solicit or accept a referral fee or compensation in exchange for referring the claimant to a repair facility.

There is more to it, of course, but you get the idea. Power gets redistributed, and the playing field is leveled a little more. The effort being put forth in Colorado will be monitored carefully over the coming months to see how things shake out.

It seems that the political machine is getting more and more into the spotlight these days, as far as the flooring and restoration industries are concerned. In Florida last year, state Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, and state Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton, filed bills to create requirements for licensure for mold remediation services. Both bills were changed substantially into bills for certification. The amended house version was passed unanimously in the Senate and in House with two dissenters, but was vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

And in Maine, a group of retail carpet and flooring business owners wants a change in the state law that governs how they deal with floor covering installers. The business owners see installers as independent contractors who set their own schedules and rates; state labor officials, however, view installers as employees of the retail businesses, and as such the retailers should pay unemployment taxes to the state. Think that might lead to a somewhat heated debate?

From restoration to mold remediation to floor covering sales and installation, prominent figures and organizations are taking their fights to state Capitols across the country. And their voices are being heard.