Protecting tenants from periods of extreme heat.
HB 2265 requires landlords in Washington state to allow tenants to install portable air conditioners or evaporative coolers (like window units or floor models) without restriction, unless specific safety or structural concerns apply. Landlords may only prohibit such devices if installation violates building codes, damages property, exceeds electrical capacity, or conflicts with window egress requirements - prioritizing tenants with disabilities requiring cooling. The bill mandates landlords provide written lease notices detailing tenant rights and restrictions, and shields landlords from liability for tenant-installed device issues. This directly affects all residential tenants in Washington, particularly those in buildings without permanent AC during extreme heat events.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 6, 2026
Last action Jan 19, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jan 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing at 1:30 PM.
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Sharlett Mena
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Ramel
DDemocratic
Co
Beth Doglio
DDemocratic
Co
Brianna Thomas
DDemocratic
Co
Chipalo Street
DDemocratic
Co
Darya Farivar
DDemocratic
Co
Gerry Pollet
DDemocratic
Co
Julia Reed
DDemocratic
Co
Lisa Parshley
DDemocratic
Co
Mia Gregerson
DDemocratic
Co
Natasha Hill
DDemocratic
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