Stay Cool Act

Summary#

The Stay Cool Act would create programs and grants to prepare for and respond to extreme heat. It directs federal agencies to coordinate on heat health information, run pilot programs and studies, and fund local projects. Key parts include an interagency National Integrated Heat Health Information System; a pilot national ranking system for extreme heat; studies on naming heat waves and on tracking heat-related deaths; and multiple grant programs for community resilience centers, cooling centers, and urban cooling projects.

The bill also amends the tax code to provide a payroll tax credit for certain nonprofit cooling centers that extend hours or waive admission during heat emergencies, and it allows certain cooling devices and box fans to be treated as medical care expenses for tax purposes. HUD-directed programs would support installing air conditioners or heat pumps in public housing and in other federally assisted rental units, and would require HUD to report on and set safe residential temperature standards. Other grants would fund public water features, green spaces, and tree planting to reduce urban heat. The bill includes definitions and application and selection rules for grants.

What it means for you#

  • If you live in areas affected by extreme heat, the bill would fund local cooling and resilience centers, public water features, shade and tree planting, and efforts to help seniors during heat events.
  • Public housing agencies and owners of federally assisted rental units could apply for grants to install air conditioning or heat pumps to meet new safe temperature standards when those are set.
  • Nonprofit community centers, libraries, and museums that act as cooling centers could receive a payroll tax credit for extended hours or free admission during heat emergencies.
  • Federal agencies would publish studies and reports (for example, reports on naming heat waves, tracking heat-related deaths, and a HUD report and regulations on safe residential temperatures).

Expenses#

  • Sec. 104: Grants to check on seniors — authorized $10,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 201: Community resilience centers grants — authorized $50,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 202: Grants to purchase or repair HVAC and passive cooling — authorized $25,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 203: Outreach and publicity grants — authorized $10,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 301: Grants for cooling systems in public housing — authorized $25,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 304: Grants to bring federally assisted rental units into compliance with safe temperature standards — authorized “such sums as may be necessary” to meet the standards for all covered units.
  • Sec. 401: Grants for public water features — authorized $50,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 402: Urban green spaces grant program — authorized $100,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
  • Sec. 403: Tree planting grants — authorized $50,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2024 through 2034.
  • Sec. 204: Adds a payroll tax credit for eligible nonprofit cooling centers; the bill directs transfers to the Social Security Trust Funds equal to revenue reductions caused by this credit to replicate otherwise expected transfers.
  • Sec. 305: Allows certain cooling device expenses to be treated as medical care for tax purposes; no appropriation specified.
  • For many studies and reports, and for the grant program to fully fund all covered units, the bill either lists specific yearly authorizations or uses open-ended language such as "such sums as may be necessary."

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.