A Democratic bill with 16 Democratic cosponsors · See all 16 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Stay Cool Act" aims to improve response to and preparation for heat waves and extreme heat. The bill establishes a National Integrated Heat Health Information System and a national ranking system to communicate heat severity. It provides various grants to support seniors, establish community resilience centers, and provide cooling systems in public and federally assisted housing. Additionally, it funds urban development projects like water features, green spaces, and tree planting to lower temperatures. Finally, it includes tax credits for community centers, libraries, or museums that operate as cooling centers.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill provides specific grants for health checks and telephone registries to monitor seniors during extreme heat.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill improves utility allowances and provides grants for cooling systems in federally assisted housing.
- Scored +6
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill funds urban green spaces, water features, and cooling centers to mitigate heat in cities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Seniors: Grants may be used to create registries and provide health checks via telephone or other means to ensure the well-being of seniors during extreme heat (Sec. 104).
-
Community Cooling Access: The bill provides funding to establish or improve community resilience centers, which offer safe, air-conditioned environments for refuge (Sec. 201, Sec. 501).
-
Improved Housing Conditions: Grants are authorized to install air conditioners or heat pumps in public housing units and other federally assisted dwellings to ensure safe residential temperatures (Sec. 301, Sec. 304).
-
Utility Cost Relief: The bill directs a revision of regulations to ensure air conditioning costs are included when calculating utility allowances for residents (Sec. 302).
-
Medical Expense Deductions: The bill allows for the expense of cooling devices like box fans or portable air conditioning units to be treated as paid for medical care (Sec. 305).
-
Urban Environment Improvements: Funding is provided for water features, green spaces, and tree planting to provide recreation, cooling, and help lower surface temperatures in urban areas (Sec. 401, Sec. 402, Sec. 403).
-
Economic Incentives for Cooling Centers: Eligible employers, such as community centers or libraries, can receive a tax credit for remaining open during heat emergencies or waiving admission fees (Sec. 204).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Requirement to Opt-In: For the senior check-in program, seniors must choose to be included in the registry (Sec. 104).
-
Application Competition: Many of the grant programs, such as those for community resilience centers or urban green spaces, are awarded based on a competition rather than guaranteed availability (Sec. 201, Sec. 203, Sec. 301, Sec. 304, Sec. 401, Sec. 402).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides specific grants for health checks and telephone registries to monitor seniors during extreme heat. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill improves utility allowances and provides grants for cooling systems in federally assisted housing. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill funds urban green spaces, water features, and cooling centers to mitigate heat in cities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically includes Indian Tribes as eligible entities for various heat-related grants. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes outreach to populations with limited English proficiency, which includes many Hispanic households.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill provides grants to install cooling systems in public and federally assisted housing to ensure safe temperatures. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill helps low-income households by improving utility allowances and providing grants for residential cooling.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this cut taxes for small businesses? — The bill provides a payroll tax credit for eligible community centers, libraries, or museums that operate as cooling centers during heat emergencies. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Eligible non-profit employers can claim tax credits for labor costs and waived admission fees during heat emergencies.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds urban green spaces and tree planting to mitigate heat and improve environmental resilience. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill funds urban development that includes improved connectivity through trails and sidewalks in green spaces.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill allows cooling devices like fans or air conditioners to be treated as deductible medical expenses.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes a national integrated heat health information system to better communicate heat risks to the public.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/9/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 6/4/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/22/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Kathy CastorDemocrat · Florida
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Jasmine CrockettDemocrat · Texas
Diana DeGetteDemocrat · Colorado
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan