HB 2265
In CommitteeHouse
Extreme heat/tenants
Protecting tenants from periods of extreme heat.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill protects tenants during extreme heat by banning evictions during National Weather Service heat alerts, allowing tenants to install portable cooling devices unless safety or structural issues apply, and requiring landlords to reconnect utilities during heat events upon request. It also updates landlord obligations around cooling, fire safety, and mold information in rental agreements.
- Tenants may install portable cooling devices (e.g., window AC units, floor fans designed for cooling) unless the installation violates safety codes, damages property, or exceeds building electrical capacity — and landlords must prioritize such requests for tenants with disabilities.
- Landlords cannot evict tenants physically during a 'period of extreme heat' — defined as 24 hours before through 48 hours after a National Weather Service heat-related alert (e.g., extreme heat warning or advisory).
- During extreme heat alerts, landlords must reconnect electricity or water service if a tenant requests it after disconnection for nonpayment, and may require a repayment plan that caps monthly payments at 6% of the tenant’s monthly income.
- Landlords must include written information in leases about tenant rights and restrictions for portable cooling devices, and provide fire safety and mold hazard information to new tenants.
- A written agreement between landlord and tenant about a partial payment after an eviction is filed does not automatically stop the eviction — the tenant must deliver a copy of the agreement to the sheriff to pause the process.
Who is affected
- Residential tenants in multifamily housing — Tenants living in apartments, duplexes, and other multi-unit buildings gain the right to install portable cooling devices (like window AC units or floor-standing air conditioners) unless specific safety or structural concerns apply; they are protected from eviction during extreme heat events.
- Residents of manufactured/mobile home communities — Tenants in manufactured or mobile homes gain similar rights to install portable cooling devices, with protections tied to their specific housing type, and are shielded from eviction during extreme heat.
- Rental property owners and managers — Landlords must update rental agreements to include new rules about portable cooling devices and provide written notice about tenant rights; they must also reconnect utilities during extreme heat if requested by a tenant, and cannot evict tenants during heat alerts.
- County sheriffs and eviction enforcement personnel — Sheriffs must pause physical evictions during extreme heat events and include clear notices about this protection on eviction paperwork; they are immune from liability unless grossly negligent.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Prohibiting evictions during extreme heat alerts and requiring utility reconnection during heat events directly protects life and health — especially for elderly, disabled, and low-income tenants who are most vulnerable to heat-related illness and death.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1); Sec. 2(1); Sec. 3(11)(b); Sec. 4(2)Allowing portable cooling devices — especially for tenants with disabilities — directly improves habitability and health equity, and the requirement to prioritize such requests for disabled tenants ensures meaningful access.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a); Sec. 2(1)(a); Sec. 1(4); Sec. 2(4)Capping utility repayment plan payments at 6% of monthly income prevents tenants from being priced out of essential services during heat emergencies — this is a strong consumer protection for low- and moderate-income renters who otherwise face disproportionate utility disconnection risk.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 3(11)(c)Mandating fire safety and mold hazard disclosures improves tenant awareness and enables informed decision-making — while not all tenants will act on this information, studies show such disclosures reduce health risks, especially for children and those with respiratory conditions.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 3(12); Sec. 3(13)Clarifying that partial payments do not automatically stop evictions — and requiring tenants to proactively provide agreements to sheriffs — creates a procedural safeguard that protects tenants from deceptive landlord practices, though it places some burden on tenants to act quickly.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 4(3)
Potential Concerns (5)
Landlords may be required to install or upgrade electrical infrastructure to accommodate tenants’ portable cooling devices, but the bill explicitly states landlords are not responsible for service interruptions due to insufficient capacity — shifting the financial burden to tenants who may lack resources to upgrade wiring or afford higher electricity bills.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(d); Sec. 2(1)(d)The 6% of monthly income cap on utility repayment plans may reduce landlords’ cash flow and increase bad debt risk, especially for small landlords with limited reserves — though the cap protects tenants from unaffordable payments, it may incentivize landlords to raise rents or tighten screening to offset perceived financial risk.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 3(11)(c)Sheriffs must pause evictions during heat alerts, increasing operational complexity and potentially requiring additional staffing or training — though the bill provides liability immunity, local governments may face increased administrative costs during peak summer months.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(11)(b)(ii)Mandating mold hazard information in leases increases administrative burden on landlords (especially small operators), but the bill delegates information development to the Department of Health and allows posting in common areas — reducing direct cost impact on tenants, though low-income renters with mold-related health issues benefit most.
HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(13)The bill adds fire safety and waste disposal obligations to landlords, but these largely restate existing duties under other statutes — no significant new cost or risk is introduced, and compliance aligns with standard property management practices.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 3(10); Sec. 3(12)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income renters, especially those with disabilities or chronic health conditions, benefit significantly from cooling access and eviction protections during heat events — they face disproportionate health risks and are most vulnerable to displacement.
Mobile home park residents gain explicit protections under the bill, but many live in communities with aging infrastructure — the cooling device and utility reconnection rules may strain limited park budgets, though health and safety gains are substantial.
Small landlords (e.g., owners of 2–10 units) face new administrative and operational costs — especially utility reconnection logistics and lease updates — but are less likely than large corporate landlords to have the resources to absorb unexpected expenses or pass them on to tenants.
Large property management firms and institutional landlords are better positioned to absorb costs (e.g., utility reconnections, lease revisions) and may benefit from standardized compliance protocols — but they face increased liability exposure if cooling device or eviction protocols are mishandled.
Sheriffs gain clarity on when evictions are prohibited, reducing legal risk — but may face increased workload during summer heat seasons, especially in counties with frequent NWS heat alerts.