As wholesale distribution increasingly becomes the focus of state regulation and legislation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) decided to expand its advocacy efforts into state affairs. As part of its focus, the association named Todd Titus as Director of State and Public Affairs.

Titus will be the first at the association to serve in a full-time role dedicated to helping HARDI and its members advance policy impacting the HVACR industry at the state level.

“State government affairs is an increasingly complicated effort, with every state following different legislative schedules and varying degrees of regulatory autonomy that affect products sold by HARDI members,” HARDI officials said in a Feb. 27 news release. “Tracking and mitigating the changes to the industry posed by state action is necessary to the success of HARDI’s total policy engagement approach.”

Titus joined HARDI from the Upstate Alliance of Realtors, where he served as Government Affairs Director.

In his new role, Titus’ will monitor legislative and regulatory changes across all 50 states to inform and educate HARDI membership. Along with informing membership of key issues, Titus will spearhead grassroots initiatives, advocate before elected officials, and network in person with relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of HARDI’s policy engagement approach.

This new addition to HARDI’s Government Affairs team stands to impact members’ understanding of current political issues in significant ways, association officials said. Current examples of applicable policy changes affecting the HVACR industry are Congress-directed rebate programs for electrification and energy efficiency and regulated PFAS. Both issues require a deeper understanding and context for how their impact affects the distribution channel.

“HARDI has engaged in state issues, when possible, but we didn’t have the bandwidth to be strategic and proactive in the states,” HARDI CEO Talbot Gee said. “I am excited to have Todd join [HARDI Vice President of Government Affairs] Alex Ayers to build a powerhouse team to represent our members in every state and learn from one of the very best government affairs professionals in all of HVACR.”