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Board authorizes major HVAC push; TDCJ says ‘cool beds’ will reach roughly 90,000 by 2028
Summary
After lengthy public comment about heat and health, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice approved multiple projects and contracts to add air-conditioned housing across state prisons; facilities director projected about 70,000 cool beds by summer 2027 and roughly 90,000 by end of 2028.
The Texas Board of Criminal Justice on April 16 approved a broad package of construction projects and procurements designed to expand air conditioning in prison housing.
Board members voted to move forward on dozens of previously approved projects and to add new unit-level HVAC installations, including work at Estelle, Dominguez, Hutchkins, Segoia and a set of expansion dorms. Facilities Division Director Damon Andrews said TDCJ counts about 52,438 air‑conditioned “cool beds” today and expects roughly 63,000 by year‑end, about 70,000 by the summer after next and about 90,000 by the end of 2028 as projects come online.
Why it matters: Dozens of public speakers at the meeting urged rapid action after families and advocacy groups reported heat‑related illnesses and deaths in unairconditioned housing. Several asked the board to pursue emergency declarations or full legislative funding to accelerate installations. The board’s approvals unlock contracts, establish construction durations and assign vendors for projects that officials said are prioritized to add the most cooling capacity fastest.
What the board approved: The board voted to authorize mechanical/electrical/plumbing upgrades at the Estelle regional medical facility and to accept project requests to install HVAC in housing at multiple units. Program costs and construction schedules were presented for each site (for example, an Estelle RMF MEP project with a program cost of about $9.9 million, construction 645 days; Segoia chilled‑water installation estimated at about $15.6 million). Several package contracts were awarded to outside firms after competitive solicitation.
Board comment and next steps: Chair Eric Nichols and Facilities Director Andrews said the agency is balancing speed and long‑term durability — aiming to avoid rework by using standardized designs, bundled procurements and in‑house engineering where possible. Andrews and others said some projects will use chilled‑water plants located outside unit perimeters to ease future maintenance.
Public reaction: Advocates and family members thanked the board for action but said timelines and transparency remain essential. Several speakers asked the agency to publish clear installation schedules and to pursue emergency procurement authority where possible.
What to watch: Completion milestones for the largest projects and the state budget actions that provide additional capital funding; the agency’s publicly shared tracker on unit A/C installation pace and the pace of contractor performance against schedules.
