A federal trial in Austin will determine whether Texas prisons must install air-conditioning in all inmate housing areas. The case, filed by advocacy organizations representing current inmates, challenges the state's refusal to cool its prison system, where temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pittman will decide if the lack of air-conditioning constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

Texas houses more prisoners than any other state, with roughly two-thirds of its 100 facilities lacking full air-conditioning. The state prison agency has acknowledged that extreme heat has caused staff illnesses and may have contributed to three inmate deaths in summer 2023. Lawyers argue the actual death toll from heat exposure is significantly higher than officially recorded. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice defends current conditions, citing mitigation measures like extra water and cool showers.

The central issue is cost. Texas estimates providing air-conditioning to all prisons could reach $1 billion, requiring legislative approval in the next budget session. Similar cases are pending in Florida, Missouri, Louisiana, and California. The trial, expected to last two weeks, follows years of legal wrangling and could set a precedent for prison conditions nationwide.