Mold Testing Industry Experts Weigh In on New Military Housing Bill Mandating IICRC Certifications
A new bill with support from both parties is now in Congress. It could soon change the way the military checks for mold in people's housing. While the bill applies only to military housing, some housing experts say federal standards often influence state and local housing practices over time. The Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act has been put forward by Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT-D), Joni Ernst (IA-R), Tim Sheehy (MT-R), Mazie Hirono (HI-D), and Congressman Jimmy Panetta. This bill, if passed, would make it so that contractors who work on military bases must have IICRC certification and must follow the ANSI/IICRC S520 rules for cleaning up mold.
For military families who have spent years sharing mold complaints that went nowhere, the bill helps hold people in charge to account. But the bill also shows a big problem in the housing market. Many times, the companies people hire to find mold are the same ones who get paid to clean it.
What the Bill Actually Requires
The MOLD Act says the Secretary of Defense will need to make sure every mold assessor, indoor environmental professional, and specialist who works on base housing has a third-party certificate. This means they must get IICRC's Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT) and Mold Remediation Specialist (MRS) papers. The work for mold will also have to follow the S520 standard.
Jordan Gruber started Fast Mold Testing in 2025. He did this after going to UC Berkeley's SkyDeck accelerator. He looks at the bill as more than just something to fix military housing.
"Look, this is something that people who serve and their families have needed for a long time," Gruber said. "But what stands out to me is that everyone need someone independent for this. The bill pretty much says the person who checks to see if you have a mold problem should not be the one who gets money to fix it. That is not a big argument. It's just clear and simple, and it should be the rule everywhere, not only on the base."
The Conflict Nobody Talks About
The mold testing and cleanup business makes about $5 billion each year. A big part of this money comes from companies that do both checking and cleaning the mold. Consumer groups say there is a clear problem. When one company tests for mold and then does the cleanup, they get more money if they find things wrong.
California, Florida, and Texas have many people in the military and a lot of humidity. This makes mold a problem that keeps coming back. In these states, there have been lawsuits from renters. They say that landlords hired inspectors who did not look into the mold issues well. The MOLD Act's rules for getting certificates could start a new way for state regulators and courts to look at these cases.
Gruber said, "We are seeing more property managers come to us and ask about IICRC standards. Some of this is because of legal pressure by the tenants. Some of this is now because tenants know more and want to find out who is checking their apartment and for what reason."
Where Technology Fits In
The push for better certification is happening as there are changes in how inspections work. Fast Mold Testing sends lab-certified samples through AI tools. This cuts wait time from the usual week to about 24 to 48 hours. The company works in more than 15+ markets and does not do remediation. That is a choice they made on purpose.
"We set things up like that right from the start," Gruber said. "Our inspectors do not have a reason to stretch the truth about what they find because we do not sell clean-up services. The certified mold inspection & testing results we give are just the results but we provide tenants & landlords clear next steps before they blow the budget on wasteful remediation services.
What This Means for Property Owners
For landlords and people who manage properties, keeping an eye on the MOLD Act matters. The main thing to know is this: rules set by the federal government often end up as state and local rules later on.
Property owners can stay ready for changes by checking that their inspection providers have up-to-date IICRC credentials. Also, make sure these providers do not sell cleanup services on the side. Keep records to show any cleanup followed the S520 standard. Tenants with mold problems should ask these questions as well. It is important to know who is doing the testing.
What Happens Next
The MOLD Act still has a long way to go in Congress. The IICRC has said it will help give technical advice as the bill moves through committee.
If the legislation passes, it will cover thousands of military housing units. It will also shape how people in the commercial and residential property areas deal with mold from now on.
Gruber said, "Military families should have homes that do not make them unwell. Renters in Phoenix and families in Orlando need this too. Everyone does. The right tools are out there. We need better certifications and faster testing. Inspectors should not have any reason to gain from what they find. This bill could be what gets everyone to do this as a regular practice."
About Fast Mold Testing
Fast Mold Testing is an AI-powered mold inspection and testing company. It gives you full results in just hours, not days. Fast Mold Testing works in more than 10 big U.S. cities like Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.
Unlike older mold testing places, Fast Mold Testing does not offer Mold cleanup. This means their tests are fair and have no conflict of interest. Each result is checked by EMPAT certified AIHA-approved labs.
For more information, visit https://fastmoldtesting.com/ or call (424) 274 7425
Media Contact:
Alexander Law-Smith
Fast Mold Testing, Inc.
+1 (424) 274 7425
press@fastmoldtesting.com
Connect with Fast Mold Testing:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fastmoldtesting-com/
Instagram: @fastmoldtesting
Read more about this topic in featured article by KRON4.