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03-02-26 | News
On January 30th, the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security jointly announced a temporary rule increasing the limit on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by 64,716. This brings the total number of authorized H-2B visas in 2026 to 130,716.
These visas are only available to U.S. businesses experiencing irreparable harm or will experience irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers they requested. The increase is based on time-limited authority that does not apply to H-2 B programs in the future. As of February 6th, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they reached the maximum amount of petition submissions for the additional visas. tinyurl.com/lasn-36261
Energy Choice Act To Protect Gas
Eight months after being introduced in the House of Representatives, the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699) has been placed on the Union Calendar, making it eligible for consideration. Introduced by Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY), the bill would prohibit states or local governments from themselves prohibiting access to energy services based on the type or source of energy sold in interstate commerce. This bill is in direct response to New York's statewide natural gas ban on most new construction but also answers to other bans across the country, like California's ban on gas-powered vehicles and small engines.
Associations across the energy industry have supported the bill, including Clean Fuels Alliance America, and the National Energy and Fuels Institute, the National Propane Gas Association and the National Association of Home Builders who vocally endorsed this act, sending staff all over Capitol Hill in mid-February to meet with lawmakers and urge that the bill quickly be brought to the House floor for a vote.
LASN will continue to monitor the bill and report updates.
tinyurl.com/lasn-36216
ASLA's Pulse Poll Results Show Immigration Enforcement Impacts on Practice
Pulse Poll
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In January, the American Society of Landscape Architectures (ASLA) launched their pulse poll, aimed at gauging how businesses have been affected by immigration actions over the past several months.
61% of respondents said they experienced project delays or disruptions in the landscape or construction phases, while only 30% of respondents have not experienced workforce disruptions in the past six months. Additionally, 27% noted frequent disruptions with 43% report they experience disruptions occasionally. 51% report they experienced delayed starts, reduced scope, or lost work due to workforce instability. 68% reveal that the costs of projects have increased.
On January 30th, the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security jointly announced a temporary rule increasing the limit on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by 64,716. This brings the total number of authorized H-2B visas in 2026 to 130,716.
These visas are only available to U.S. businesses experiencing irreparable harm or will experience irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers they requested. The increase is based on time-limited authority that does not apply to H-2 B programs in the future. As of February 6th, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they reached the maximum amount of petition submissions for the additional visas. tinyurl.com/lasn-36261
Energy Choice Act To Protect Gas
Eight months after being introduced in the House of Representatives, the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699) has been placed on the Union Calendar, making it eligible for consideration. Introduced by Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY), the bill would prohibit states or local governments from themselves prohibiting access to energy services based on the type or source of energy sold in interstate commerce. This bill is in direct response to New York's statewide natural gas ban on most new construction but also answers to other bans across the country, like California's ban on gas-powered vehicles and small engines.
Associations across the energy industry have supported the bill, including Clean Fuels Alliance America, and the National Energy and Fuels Institute, the National Propane Gas Association and the National Association of Home Builders who vocally endorsed this act, sending staff all over Capitol Hill in mid-February to meet with lawmakers and urge that the bill quickly be brought to the House floor for a vote.
LASN will continue to monitor the bill and report updates.
tinyurl.com/lasn-36216
Filed Under:MARCH 2026,PARKS,ASLA,IMMIGRATION,H-2 B,LASN, LASN
