Extreme heat causes death and serious illness in Washington every year. Tenants, elders, infants, children, people with chronic illnesses, and low-income households are especially vulnerable. Home air conditioning is proven to make families safer, and many Washingtonians still don’t have access. And unlike heating, there are no requirements for cooling in rental housing. Some landlords even block tenants from using portable cooling devices.
If passed, HB 2265 will:
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Give tenants the right to install and use portable cooling devices
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Delay physical eviction during life-threatening extreme heat events
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Add cooling as a requirement for a rental dwelling to be considered habitable
