Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lawmakers consider bill to require air conditioning when apartments are built or renovated, drawing public‑health and industry debate
Summary
House Bill 339 would require air conditioning in new or substantially altered rental apartment units, using ASHRAE Standard 55 to define acceptable indoor conditions; public‑health groups and tenants’ advocates urged passage, while building and landlord groups raised implementation and cost concerns and urged use of existing county standards.
The committee heard House Bill 339, a proposal to require air conditioning in certain rental apartment units after new construction or substantial renovation and to use ASHRAE Standard 55 to define acceptable thermal conditions.
Sponsor Delegate Mary L. Layman said the bill responds to increasing extreme heat and scientific evidence that lack of cooling worsens health risks for infants, older adults and people with chronic conditions. “This bill is not about providing comfort,” she said. “It is a tool to preempt public‑health crises before they happen.” She said the measure avoids a single fixed seasonal window and instead uses ASHRAE’s scientifically derived temperature guidance to set a target that varies with occupant vulnerability.
Public‑interest and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
