Texas prisons seek $298M for air conditioning. That’s a fraction of what’s needed.

A prison agency has requested funding to address summer heat in state lockups. The agency is seeking $298 million over two years to add air conditioned beds. This would provide more than 15,700 additional air conditioned beds.

The request is intended to deliver progress toward reducing the danger of summer heat. However, inmate advocates have expressed concerns, viewing the budget request as insufficient.

Further details on the request and the concerns of inmate advocates are available from the source. The prison agency's funding request is currently under consideration by the Legislature.