HB 1315

AN ACT relating to air conditioning requirements at facilities operated by

House Bill • Martinez Fischer
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to install and maintain air conditioning in all cellblocks, dormitories, and common areas within its facilities, ensuring temperatures remain between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The requirement applies to all TDCJ facilities and aims to provide more humane living conditions for incarcerated individuals, who have historically been subjected to extreme heat in Texas prisons. The law will go into effect on September 1, 2025, giving the department time to implement the necessary cooling infrastructure.

Subject Areas

Corrections--Jails & Prisons CRIMINAL JUSTICE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Bill Text

relating to air conditioning requirements at facilities operated by
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 501.028 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.028.  AIR CONDITIONING REQUIREMENTS AT DEPARTMENT
FACILITIES.  The department shall ensure that each cellblock,
dormitory, and common area in a facility operated by the department
is equipped with an air conditioning unit that is operating to
maintain the air temperature at not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit
or more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Trey Martinez Fischer

Trey Martinez Fischer

Primary Author
D House District 116

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to air conditioning requirements at facilities operated by

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