Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025

This proposal would help protect people from dangerous heat. It creates a national heat‑health information system inside NOAA to improve heat warnings and share easy‑to‑use information, with a focus on communities hit hardest by heat. It also sets up a federal committee to coordinate many agencies so plans and actions against heat are aligned and effective.

It funds local solutions that lower health risks during hot weather. A new program can give grants and other support for projects like cool roofs and pavements, planting and caring for trees, adding shade and cooling centers, upgrading buildings and power systems to keep air conditioning reliable, and training to protect vulnerable people and workers. At least 40% of this aid must go to low‑income neighborhoods and communities facing environmental justice concerns.

• Who is affected: Eligible applicants include local governments, Tribes, nonprofits, workforce boards, and colleges. People at higher risk include older adults, pregnant people, young children, outdoor workers, people with disabilities or health conditions, people in low‑income areas, incarcerated people, people without housing, and military personnel.
• What changes: Creates a new federal committee and a national heat‑health system inside NOAA ; requires a 5‑year strategic plan to guide work across agencies ; orders an independent National Academies study to find gaps and set common definitions ; opens up data and funds research to improve tools and solutions ; and offers community grants for heat resilience.
• When: Within 1 year, the community heat resilience program may be set up to deliver funding. Within 2 years, the committee must publish a 5‑year strategic plan. Within 120 days, NOAA will seek to start the National Academies study; it must finish within 3 years, and a public report is due within 90 days after it ends.
• Funding: Sets aside money for 2026–2030 to run the system and committee ($20M each year), to fund the study ($500k per year in 2026–2028), and to provide community grants ($10M in 2026–2027, $20M in 2028, $30M in 2029–2030).