Judge Orders Texas to Air Condition All Prisons by 2029

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to install air conditioning in all state prison facilities by December 31, 2029. In a 150-page ruling, Pitman found that the lack of climate control violates the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment, describing the resulting environment as degrading and inhumane. The judge cited evidence of at least nine heat-related deaths between 2023 and 2025, though he suggested that figure is an undercount.

The ruling follows a 2023 lawsuit initiated by inmate Bernie Tiede and joined by several prisoners' rights groups. Pitman characterized the agency's failure to implement a meaningful cooling plan as "deliberate indifference," noting that current budget requests for cooling are significantly lower than the agency's own previous estimates. As of September 1, 2026, only about one-third of the 104 state facilities were fully air-conditioned, leaving nearly 90,000 incarcerated people without cool beds.

The TDCJ estimates the systemwide installation will cost approximately $1.5 billion and has announced its intention to appeal the decision. The agency argues that its existing heat mitigation efforts are robust. However, Pitman dismissed potential funding shortages as a legitimate excuse for non-compliance. The court requires the TDCJ to submit status reports every six months beginning March 22, 2027.