Bill > SB655

This bill establishes a new state policy requiring all dwelling units to be able to attain and maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature, in response to increasing heat waves and their deadly consequences. The legislation is motivated by alarming statistics, including 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, such as the Department of Housing and Community Development, Public Utilities Commission, and State Department of Public Health, to consider this policy when developing policies, programs, criteria, and regulations starting January 1, 2027. Importantly, the bill acknowledges that vulnerable and disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected by extreme heat. While the bill declares this as a state policy, it explicitly states that it does not create a mandatory obligation for the state to provide a safe maximum indoor temperature or require additional infrastructure development. The legislation builds upon existing residential building standards that specify a minimum indoor air temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but introduces a new focus on addressing maximum indoor temperatures to protect residents from extreme heat.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

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