Bill > SB655

This bill establishes a new state policy that all dwelling units must be able to attain and maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature, in response to increasing heat-related risks. The legislation is driven by alarming data showing heat as the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, with California specifically experiencing 395 excess deaths during a 10-day heat wave in September 2022, and projections that urban heat-related deaths could double or triple by 2050. The bill requires multiple state agencies, including the Department of Housing and Community Development, California Environmental Protection Agency, Public Utilities Commission, and others, to consider this policy when developing policies, programs, criteria, and regulations starting January 1, 2027. Importantly, the bill recognizes that vulnerable and disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected by extreme heat. While the legislation declares this policy, it explicitly states that it does not create a new state obligation to provide a safe maximum indoor temperature or require additional infrastructure expenditures beyond existing responsibilities. The bill builds upon existing residential building standards that specify a minimum indoor air temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit but currently lack requirements for maximum temperatures.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB655