In a significant move aimed at addressing longstanding concerns over extreme heat in correctional facilities, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 3006 on Friday. The bill mandates the installation of air-conditioning in all state prisons by the end of 2032, responding to growing pressure from inmate advocacy groups, public health experts, and a federal court.
The legislation passed in a 79-39 vote and now heads to the Texas Senate for consideration.
If signed into law, HB 3006 would require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to implement the project in three phases. Each phase is projected to cost approximately $100 million, with the first phase set for completion by December 31, 2028. The second and third phases would follow in 2030 and 2032, respectively, each targeting roughly one-third of the state’s prison facilities.
The bill also restricts the use of state funds unless explicitly approved by the Legislature, ensuring fiscal oversight throughout the implementation.
Scope of Cooling Requirements
Under the proposed law, indoor temperatures in designated areas must be maintained between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These areas include:
Inmate housing and dormitories
Medical and treatment facilities
Visiting and community dayroom areas
Food preparation and dining spaces
Educational, vocational, religious, and administrative spaces
Officer workstations and guard posts
Laundry and hygiene areas
Recreational and library spaces
This broad mandate reflects expert testimony linking extreme heat with serious health risks for inmates and staff. Texas often sees summer temperatures soar above 100 degrees, making indoor conditions dangerous, especially in facilities constructed without climate control systems.
Mounting Pressure and Legal Rulings
The move follows a federal judge’s March 2025 ruling that described the lack of air-conditioning in Texas prisons as potentially unconstitutional, particularly during periods of extreme heat. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said that TDCJ's previous 25-year plan to cool facilities was “insufficient under the Eighth Amendment,” which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
Although Pitman stopped short of mandating temporary cooling solutions during the ongoing litigation, he warned that continued delays could prompt further legal intervention.
Court documents indicate that over 95,000 inmates are currently housed in Texas prisons without air conditioning. While 32 of the state’s 101 prison units have fully air-conditioned housing, more than half have only partial or no cooling—often amounting to fewer than 10 cooled beds per facility.
Health and Safety Risks
The dangers posed by the lack of air-conditioning are not hypothetical. A 2022 study conducted by researchers at Brown, Boston, and Harvard universities linked 13% of deaths in non-air-conditioned Texas prisons from 2001 to 2019—or 271 deaths—to extreme heat exposure.
Experts testified during legislative hearings and in court that heat index values above 88 degrees can lead to heat exhaustion, dehydration, heat stroke, and more severe conditions such as heart attacks and kidney failure. There is also evidence that extreme heat may contribute to rising suicide rates among incarcerated individuals.
As climate change drives temperatures higher and extends the duration of extreme heat events in Texas, the urgency to act has intensified.
Advocacy and Opposition
Inmate rights organizations have long argued that sweltering, uncooled conditions in prisons amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Lawsuits challenging these conditions have gained traction in recent years, bolstered by rising public awareness and media coverage of life-threatening heat waves behind bars.
Still, the bill is not without its critics. Some lawmakers expressed concern over the potential costs and logistical complexity of retrofitting decades-old facilities. HB 3006's requirement for legislative appropriation of funds before installation begins adds another layer of political negotiation to the project’s future.
What Comes Next
The Texas Senate will now take up HB 3006, where it may face further scrutiny or amendments. If passed and signed into law, the bill could mark a historic shift in Texas prison policy—one that places inmate health and constitutional rights at the forefront of correctional infrastructure planning.
For now, advocates are cautiously optimistic.
“People are dying because of the heat,” said one representative from an inmate advocacy group. “This bill is not just about comfort. It’s about dignity, safety, and human rights in the state of Texas.”
Texas is one of the few states that does not require air conditioning in all of its prisons, a fact that has drawn national criticism and court challenges. With the passage of HB 3006 in the House, the state moves a step closer to joining others that have taken proactive steps to ensure humane conditions for incarcerated individuals.
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