SHOWER Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4593
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-15: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T05:06:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 4593: The SHOWER Act
Purpose
The legislation aims to update the federal definition of a "showerhead" under energy efficiency standards to align with a specific industry standard, potentially reducing regulatory restrictions on showerhead design and water usage in residential settings. This is intended to ease what the bill describes as overregulation affecting homeowners.
Key Provisions
- Revised Definition: Amends Section 321(31)(D) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291(31)(D)) to define a "showerhead" according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard A112.18.1-2024. This standard outlines plumbing fixture requirements, but explicitly excludes "safety shower showerheads" (devices used in industrial or emergency settings for rinsing chemicals or hazards).
- Regulatory Updates: Requires the Secretary of Energy to issue necessary changes to existing regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment to match the new definition.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Prior to this amendment, the definition of "showerhead" under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act treated certain multi-nozzle or multi-head shower fixtures as separate units for applying water flow limits (e.g., a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute per nozzle). The new definition adopts the ASME standard, which likely treats an entire showerhead assembly as a single unit for flow restrictions, allowing greater flexibility in design without per-nozzle limits.
- This shifts from a more restrictive federal interpretation to an industry-standard approach, excluding safety-specific showerheads from consumer product regulations.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Homeowners and consumers may benefit from access to more efficient or feature-rich showerheads (e.g., those with multiple spray settings) without facing stricter water flow caps, potentially lowering costs and improving user experience. However, it could indirectly increase household water and energy use if flow limits are less stringent.
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Energy (DOE) must update its regulations promptly, which may involve administrative costs and reviews of compliance testing. No direct impacts on international relations are evident.
- Broader Effects: Could influence water conservation efforts, as relaxed standards might lead to higher overall water consumption in homes, affecting municipal water supplies in water-scarce areas.
Main Stakeholders
- Homeowners and Consumers: Primary beneficiaries, as the bill targets reducing regulations that limit showerhead options.
- Showerhead Manufacturers and Retailers: Gain flexibility in product design and marketing, potentially expanding market options.
- Department of Energy (DOE): Responsible for implementing changes, affecting its regulatory oversight of energy-efficient appliances.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: May oppose the changes if they view them as weakening water-saving mandates.
- Plumbing Industry: Aligns federal rules with ASME standards, simplifying compliance for manufacturers.
Notable Implications
- Legal: Establishes a clearer, industry-aligned standard for enforcement, reducing potential disputes over what constitutes a "showerhead" under federal law. It promotes consistency between federal regulations and voluntary industry standards without altering broader energy conservation goals.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; the bill falls within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and energy policy.
- Political: Reflects a deregulatory approach, emphasizing homeowner choice over federal mandates, which could spark debates on balancing consumer freedom with environmental protection. The bill's passage in the House and referral to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources indicate ongoing congressional focus on appliance efficiency rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-15: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-13: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-01-13: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 226 - 197 (Roll no. 23). (text: CR 1/7/2026 H127) (Roll call 23)
- 2026-01-13: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 226 - 197 (Roll no. 23). (Roll call 23)
- 2026-01-13: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 215 (Roll no. 22). (Roll call 22)
- 2026-01-13: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- 2026-01-13: Mr. Riley (NY) moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H695)
- 2026-01-13: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H695-696)
- 2026-01-13: Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the House resumed consideration of H.R. 4593.
- 2026-01-07: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 4593 would be postponed.
- 2026-01-07: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 2026-01-07: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4593.
- 2026-01-07: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4593, H.R. 5184 and H.R. 6938. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4593, H.R. 5184, and H.R. 6938 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
- 2026-01-07: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 977. (consideration: CR H127-132)
- 2026-01-07: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 977 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4593, H.R. 5184 and H.R. 6938. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4593, H.R. 5184, and H.R. 6938 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Bill Versions
- Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act — issued 2026-01-13 — PDF (4 pages)
- Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act — issued 2025-07-22 — PDF (2 pages)
- Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act — issued 2026-01-15 — PDF (2 pages)
- Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing Act — issued 2025-12-30 — PDF (4 pages)