H-0084.2
HOUSE BILL 1031
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Reeves, Ryu, Ramel, Reed, Fosse, Pollet, Scott, and Stonier
Prefiled 12/11/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to mitigating the impact of rising school facility temperatures resulting from climate change; amending RCW 28A.150.290 ; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that even as the state pursues the cutting-edge climate policies necessary to mitigate the impacts of our past and near-term carbon intensive economy, the realities of climate change, including rising temperatures, are already upon us. Consequently, average and extreme temperatures in Washington state are likely to rise dramatically over the next century. The legislature further finds that because many of the state's school facilities lack adequate cooling systems, our teachers and students are likely to experience increasingly negative climate change-related impacts on their ability to teach and learn in the classroom. Therefore, the legislature intends to require the superintendent of public instruction to develop recommendations for indoor temperature standards, including a maximum temperature recommendation, for public school facilities. The legislature also intends to provide the superintendent of public instruction with specific authority to develop rules related to school districts' cancellation of school days due to excessive heat.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows: