Stay Cool Act
Sponsored By: Representative Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would build a coordinated federal approach to extreme heat, combining national heat-warning systems with funding for local cooling, green infrastructure, and protections for seniors. It focuses on better data and warnings, more cooling access for people who need it, and grants and tax incentives to expand cooling infrastructure.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tax deduction for cooling devices
If enacted, box fans and portable or window air conditioners would count as medical care for tax purposes for taxable years beginning after enactment. Taxpayers who itemize medical deductions or use medical spending accounts that rely on the medical-care definition would be able to include those cooling devices as qualifying medical expenses.
Payroll tax credit for cooling centers
If enacted, eligible nonprofit community centers, libraries, and museums could claim a quarterly payroll tax credit for amounts paid after enactment. The credit would equal staff hourly labor cost times hours open outside normal hours during a National Weather Service heat emergency plus average daily admission revenue times days admission fees were waived during a heat emergency. The credit cannot exceed the employer's quarterly section 3111(a) tax; excess may carry to the next quarter. Employers may opt out for a quarter. Transfers would be made to Social Security trust funds to offset revenue loss.
Rules and grants for assisted housing
If enacted, HUD would set safe indoor temperature standards for covered federally assisted rental units and must issue rules within 2 years and a report within 3 years. HUD would run grant programs to install air conditioners or heat pumps in public housing ($25 million per year, 2026–2035) and to help owners bring covered assisted units into compliance with the standards (funding "such sums as may be necessary"). The bill would also require HUD to include air conditioning costs when calculating public housing utility allowances. Covered units include public housing, Section 8, Section 202, Section 811, and specified Housing Act programs.
Grants for local cooling and green spaces
If enacted, HUD would run several competitive grant programs to help communities cool down. The bill would authorize $50 million per year (2026–2035) for community resilience centers, $25 million per year for HVAC and passive cooling for centers, $10 million per year for outreach and tools, $50 million per year for free public water features, $100 million per year for urban green spaces, and $50 million per year (2024–2034) for tree planting. Grants would prioritize projects near public housing, low-income neighborhoods, and areas with limited access to cooling centers.
Senior heat registries and checks
If enacted, HHS would award grants to create opt-in registries of seniors and to make wellness checks during extreme heat. The program would be authorized at $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035. Grants would prioritize outreach to seniors who are low-income, limited English proficient, racial minorities, or tribal.
National heat data, warnings, and studies
If enacted, NOAA would maintain the National Integrated Heat Health Information System with NOAA, EPA, CDC, and the National Weather Service. The NWS would run a pilot to rank heat severity by health outcomes and report within one year. The NWS would also finish a 180-day study on whether naming heat waves changes preparedness. The CDC would study extreme heat's effect on all-cause mortality and recommend death-certificate changes within 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov