Written by John McMahon, CEO of Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Dear ALCC Members,

As we continue to get updates on the status of H-2B visas we need to continue to put pressure on congress.

As many of you know, on December 31, 2025, the Administration announced plans to release 35,000 additional H-2B visas for fiscal year 2026. While this announcement is welcome news, these visas are not yet accessible, and we are still awaiting a temporary final rule that will allow employers to apply. ALCC will continue to monitor this closely and keep you informed as soon as additional details are released. That said, this announcement alone does not solve the workforce crisis facing our industry.

The FY 2026 first-half H-2B cap was reached on September 12, and the second-half cap is expected to be reached within the next few weeks. The Department of Labor has already received 162,603 H-2B worker requests for just 33,000 available visas in the second half of the fiscal year. Even with the release of the 35,000 supplemental visas, nearly 158,000 seasonal jobs nationwide are projected to go unfilled unless Congress acts.

Congress is currently working to finalize the FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill. Importantly, over the summer, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan DHS funding bill, by voice vote, that includes meaningful H-2B cap relief.

This provision would establish a cap exemption for Certified Seasonal Employers, defined as employers that received H-2B labor certifications annually during fiscal years 2021–2025. Under this approach, employers could hire up to the highest number of H-2B workers they were certified for during those five years without counting against the annual cap. Any additional workers requested above that level would still count toward the cap. First-time and newer H-2B users would continue to be subject to the existing 66,000-visa cap.

This common sense solution recognizes reliable, compliant employers who have consistently used the program responsibly and are committed to maintaining a legal workforce.

Additional talking points here for your reference.

What You Can Do Right Now

Please take a few minutes to complete the actions below. These calls and emails truly matter.

1. Call Your U.S. Representative
Dial the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Ask to speak with the staff member who handles immigration issues.
Request that your Representative:

• Express support for the H-2B cap-relief language included in the House-passed FY 2026 DHS Appropriations bill
• Urge the Administration to promptly issue the temporary final rule releasing the supplemental visas
• Emphasize that long-term cap relief is still essential, even after the release of the 35,000 supplemental visas

2. Call Both of Your U.S. Senators
Use the same number: 202-225-3121.
Make the same requests outlined above and ask your Senators to support inclusion of the House cap-relief language in the final DHS funding bill.

3. Email Your Representative and Senators
You can send a pre-written message to your elected officials using the advocacy link provided by the National Association of Landscape Professionals. This action takes less than five minutes and ensures your voice is heard.

EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS

Thank you for taking the time to advocate on behalf of your business, your employees, and our industry. Workforce certainty is critical for the landscape profession, and ALCC will continue to press for real, lasting solutions.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Sincerely,

John McMahon, CEO of Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado