What's happening
This bill requires schools to establish policies for managing extreme heat, including plans to remove students and staff when room temperatures reach 88°F.
Why it matters
Mandates proactive removal of students and staff from overheated classrooms. This bill goes beyond recommending heat-relief measures by requiring, where practicable, the evacuation of students and staff from rooms that reach 88°F, making schools responsible for concrete actions—not just comfort measures—during heat events.
Sets a clear, enforceable heat threshold for action. By specifying 88°F as the trigger for removal, the law introduces a measurable standard, which could strengthen accountability for school districts and empower parents and staff to advocate for safer conditions.
May prompt broader operational and facility changes. Schools may need to assess ventilation, cooling systems, and alternative learning spaces to comply with these requirements, potentially accelerating investments in infrastructure and emergency planning for climate resilience.
Prioritizes health equity in school environments. The policy aims to protect vulnerable populations (like young children and staff with health conditions) from heat-related illnesses, addressing disparities in building conditions and access to safe learning environments across districts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Heat in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A752
- Ordered to third reading cal.49
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Limit School Building Heat
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Christopher Eachus
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
775
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to policies regarding maximum temperatures in school buildings and facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 409-n of the education law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the education law relating to establishing a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 3397-A and A. 9011-A, is amended to read as follows:
§ 409-n. Maximum temperatures in school buildings and facilities. All common, union free, central, central high schools, city school districts and boards of cooperative educational services shall develop a policy for ensuring the health and safety of students, faculty, and other employees, on extreme heat condition days. For the purpose of this section, extreme heat condition days shall be defined as days when the occupiable educational and support services spaces are found to be eighty-two degrees or greater Fahrenheit. For the purpose of this section, support services spaces shall not include kitchen areas used in the preparation of food for consumption by students. For the purpose of this section, room temperature shall be measured at a shaded location, three feet above the floor near the center of the room. Schools shall be required to take action to relieve heat-related discomfort when the occupied space temperature reaches eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit. These actions may include, but are not limited to, turning off the overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning on fans, opening classroom doors and windows to increase circulation, turning off unused electronics that produce heat, and providing water breaks. [Educational] Such policy shall include a plan to remove students and staff from occu-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02930-01-5
pied spaces where practicable when educational and support services spaces [cannot be occupied if room temperature reaches] reach eightyeight degrees Fahrenheit.
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 2801-a of the education law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the education law relating to establishing a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 3397-A and A. 9011-A, is amended to read as follows:
a. policies and procedures for response to emergency situations [including extreme heat conditions], such as those requiring evacuation, sheltering, and lock-down. These policies shall include, at a minimum, evacuation routes, shelter sites, and procedures for addressing medical needs, transportation and emergency notification of parents and guardians;
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the education law relating to establishing a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 3397-A and A. 9011-A, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to policies regarding maximum temperatures in school buildings and facilities
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to provisions of L.2024 C.596 related to maximum temperatures in school buildings and facili- ties.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter to clarify the school districts' process of adopting heat mitigation policies and ensure school districts' flexibility to determine heat mitigation responses.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 596 of the laws of 2024. S.3397A and A.9011A passed in their respective houses in June 2024.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the education law relating to establishing a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facil- ities, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 3397-A and A. 9011-A, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.