House Passes Fix to Regional Standards Installation-Date Requirement, More Action Needed to Pass Senate

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Don’t Mess with my Home Appliances Act by a vote of 217–190 with bipartisan support. The legislation repeals the use of the date of installation as the compliance deadline for regional energy efficiency standards, an important change that HARDI has been advocating for years at our Congressional Fly-in, lobbying visits, and through our grassroots portal.

HARDI has always opposed using the date of installation as a compliance deadline because installation often occurs months after equipment is purchased. Businesses can find themselves holding inventory that was legally manufactured and acquired before a deadline but becomes noncompliant solely because it is installed after that deadline. This has complicated inventory planning, increased compliance risk, and created unnecessary disruption throughout the HVACR supply chain.

Years of Advocacy Lead to Results

HARDI has consistently pushed for reform of this flawed compliance framework. Through meetings with lawmakers, coalition engagement, regulatory comments, and ongoing education efforts on Capitol Hill, we have worked to ensure policymakers understood the real-world impact of installation-date enforcement.

This week’s House vote is the result of sustained engagement and persistence. Most importantly, it reflects the strength of HARDI’s grassroots advocacy.

At last year’s Congressional Fly-In, HARDI members held more than 150 meetings with House and Senate offices to advocate for repealing the installation-date provision. Those meetings gave distributors the opportunity to explain directly how the current policy affects their businesses, their contractor customers, and the communities they serve.

In addition, HARDI members sent more than 300 messages to Congress urging repeal of the provision. These coordinated grassroots efforts reinforced our message and demonstrated broad industry support for a legislative fix.

When lawmakers hear directly from employers and job creators in their districts, it makes a difference. The House vote shows that sustained, member-driven advocacy works.

Keep the Pressure On: Join Us April 20–21 in Washington

While House passage is a major milestone, the job is not finished. The legislation must move to the Senate, and continued engagement from HARDI members will be critical to maintaining momentum.

That is why we are urging members to attend the HARDI Congressional Fly-In on April 20–21 in Washington, DC.

The Fly-In is our most important advocacy event of the year. Participants receive policy briefings, updates on key legislative priorities, and guidance on communicating effectively with lawmakers. Members then meet directly with their elected officials and their staff to advocate for policies that support wholesale distribution and the broader HVACR industry.

Last year, more than 150 meetings with congressional offices helped drive this progress. This year, we need to build on that success.