Stay Cool Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
- Committees
- Education and Workforce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 22, 2026
Bottom line
The Stay Cool Act aims to mitigate the health and economic impacts of extreme heat by investing in community resilience, housing improvements, and urban development, alongside enhanced data collection and public awareness initiatives.
What it actually does
The Stay Cool Act establishes a comprehensive framework to address extreme heat events through various federal initiatives. It mandates the creation of a national heat health information system, a heat severity ranking system, and studies on heat-related deaths and naming heat waves. The bill also authorizes multiple grant programs for community resilience centers, cooling systems in public and federally assisted housing, urban green spaces, tree planting, and public water features. Additionally, it provides a payroll tax credit for eligible cooling centers and directs HUD to include air conditioning costs in utility allowance calculations for residents.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that extreme heat is a growing public health crisis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This bill provides a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to protect communities, especially seniors and low-income households, by improving infrastructure, providing cooling resources, and enhancing public awareness and data tracking. It addresses both immediate relief and long-term resilience, promoting environmental justice and public safety.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that the bill represents an overreach of federal spending into local issues, creating new bureaucracies and grant programs that could be inefficient or duplicative. Concerns could also be raised about the overall cost to taxpayers, the potential for fraud in grant programs, or that some provisions, such as the payroll credit, could be exploited. Some might also contend that the issue is better handled at the state or local level without extensive federal intervention.
The bill is moderately complex but well-structured, allowing a reader to understand its core provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Title I, Section 101
National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS)
This section formally establishes and mandates the maintenance of the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) as an interagency committee. Chaired by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), its membership includes representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Weather Service (NWS), along with other relevant federal officials. The system is designed to coordinate federal efforts to provide information and resources related to heat health.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a formalized NIHHIS ensures a coordinated federal response to extreme heat, improving data sharing and public communication. This interagency approach is essential for developing effective strategies to protect public health.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against formalizing interagency coordination, though some might express concerns about potential bureaucratic inefficiencies or duplication of existing efforts.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the need for comprehensive federal coordination with the potential for bureaucratic overhead. The challenge lies in ensuring effective collaboration without creating redundant structures.
Title I, Section 104
Grants for Checking on Seniors During Extreme Heat Events
This section authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to eligible entities (states, tribes, local governments, non-profits) to establish programs for checking on seniors during extreme heat events. Grant recipients would operate an opt-in registry of seniors and provide health and well-being checks via telephone or other approved means. Priority is given to entities identifying and reaching vulnerable seniors, such as those with low income or limited English proficiency. The program is authorized for $10 million annually from FY2026 through FY2035.
Title II, Section 201
Grants for Community Resilience Centers
This section authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a grant program for eligible entities (states, tribes, local governments, non-profits) to create new or assist existing community resilience centers. These centers are defined as facilities providing safe, air-conditioned (and heated for cold) environments during extreme weather, available free of charge, and conducting community outreach. Grant funds can be used for facility acquisition/improvement, cooling/heating equipment, generators, emergency supplies, operating costs, and educational materials. The program is authorized for $50 million annually from FY2026 through FY2035.
Title II, Section 204
Payroll Credit for Cooling Centers
This section amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a payroll tax credit for eligible employers (501(c)(3) community centers, libraries, museums) that operate as cooling centers during a 'heat emergency' (extreme heat warning, watch, or advisory). The credit amount is calculated based on the hourly labor cost for extended operating hours and the average daily admission revenue waived during free admission days. The credit is limited to the employer's subsection (a) tax liability for the quarter, with unused credit carried over to succeeding quarters.
Title III, Section 301
Grants for Providing Cooling Systems in Public Housing Units
This section authorizes HUD to make grants to public housing agencies for the installation of air conditioners or heat pumps in public housing dwelling units constructed before the date of enactment. Eligible systems must meet HUD standards for cooling capacity, safety, reliability, and energy efficiency. HUD will select grant recipients through a competition, prioritizing agencies serving communities with limited access to cooling centers. The program is authorized for $25 million annually from FY2026 through FY2035.
Title III, Section 302
Guidance on Air Conditioning Costs and Utility Allowances
This section directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to revise existing regulations under subpart E of part 965 of volume 24, Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this revision is to ensure that air conditioning costs are explicitly included when calculating utility allowance schedules and utility allowances for residents in federally assisted housing. This aims to prevent residents from bearing disproportionate costs for necessary cooling.
Title IV, Section 402
Grant Program to Develop and Improve High-Quality Urban Green Spaces
This section establishes a grant program, administered by HUD in coordination with the National Park Service, to fund eligible entities (states, tribes, local governments, non-profits) for developing and improving urban green spaces. The goal is to lower surface temperatures through increased urban vegetation. Eligible activities include planting and maintaining vegetation, improving stormwater management, increasing green infrastructure, and rebuilding/expanding green spaces. Applications must include a 5-year timeline and budget, and a public participation plan. Priority is given to projects addressing deficiencies in green space access, building near public housing, using environmentally beneficial components, and connecting to neighborhoods. The program is authorized for $100 million annually from FY2026 through FY2035.
The bill defines 'community resilience center' with specific operational and environmental standards, but for 'cooling center,' it states the term 'shall have such meaning as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may give to such term for purposes of this Act.'
Title V, Section 501(2)
Why it matters:This is likely standard legislative practice to allow an agency expert to define a technical term, rather than an attempt to obscure. However, it delegates significant authority to NOAA for a term used in multiple grant programs.
Case for: Granting NOAA the authority to define 'cooling center' allows for flexibility and adaptation based on scientific understanding and evolving best practices for heat mitigation. It ensures that the definition can be updated without requiring further legislation.
Case against: Leaving the definition open could lead to ambiguity for grant applicants and recipients, potentially resulting in inconsistent standards across different programs or regions. It also shifts a key policy decision from Congress to an administrative agency.
Estimated impact: The definition of 'cooling center' will directly impact eligibility for grants under Sections 202, 203, 301, and 304, potentially affecting millions of dollars in funding and the types of facilities that can receive support.
This subsection authorizes appropriations for grants to provide safe residential temperatures in all federally assisted dwellings, stating 'such sums as may be necessary for assistance under this section sufficient for all covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to meet the safe residential temperature standards established pursuant to section 6(b).'
Title III, Section 304(f)
Why it matters:This is a standard legislative technique to authorize funding for a program without setting a specific cap, often used when the exact cost is difficult to estimate or when there's a strong commitment to fully fund a mandate. It avoids a hard budget constraint but also makes the ultimate fiscal commitment less transparent.
Case for: Supporters argue that this open-ended authorization demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring safe residential temperatures for all residents of federally assisted housing, recognizing that the full cost may be substantial and difficult to precisely estimate upfront. It ensures that the program will not be prematurely capped before its objectives are met.
Case against: Critics would contend that authorizing 'such sums as may be necessary' represents an uncapped federal spending commitment, making it impossible for Congress or the public to understand the full fiscal impact of the bill. This lack of a specific dollar figure can lead to unpredictable budget outlays and reduced fiscal accountability.
Estimated impact: This provision could authorize billions of dollars over the program's lifetime, as it aims to bring all covered federally assisted rental dwelling units into compliance with new temperature standards, a potentially massive undertaking.