Bill
HB 5597
HB 5597 requires state-wide indoor air quality standards for public schools, five-year inspections, MERV-13 filtration where feasible, DoH/DoE rules, and public results.
Status snapshot
- Introduced (filed): Feb–Mar 2025 (text lists Feb 26, 2025; filed Mar 14, 2025)
- Referred to House Education. Committee action: 03/18/2025 — committee recommended measure be held for further study. Public hearings held 04/24/2025 and 05/01/2025; committee failed to receive an affirmative vote on 05/01/2025.
Purpose
- Establish statewide standards, regular inspections, and transparency for indoor air quality (IAQ) in public school buildings, and require feasible upgrades to school HVAC filtration to protect pupil health and safety.
Key provisions
- Definitions: Creates specific terms (e.g., ASHRAE, HVAC, mechanical engineer, mechanical ventilation system, MERV, PM2.5, PM10, qualified testing/adjusting personnel, skilled and trained construction workforce — defined to have at least 60% registered/apprenticeship workers).
- Department of Health (DoH): required to promulgate recommended IAQ standards by regulation, including thresholds or rates for temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), PM2.5, PM10, ventilation, and filtration.
- Department of Education (DoE): must establish a uniform school-building IAQ inspection and evaluation program, in coordination with local school boards. Inspections are required at least once every five years and must use a skilled and trained construction workforce.
- Inspection scope: includes measurements of temperature, humidity, CO2, PM2.5, PM10; verification of ventilation delivery rates and components; MERV filter level assessment and replacement routine; carbon dioxide sensor installation/verification; and field data to support installation of mechanical ventilation/HVAC where none exists.
- Reporting and transparency: DoE must post inspection/evaluation results online and send results to each school principal, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the local school board.
- Filtration/HVAC work rules:
- Require MERV 13 filtration where feasible and appropriate per ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022 §8 and Table 8–1.
- If existing HVAC cannot support MERV 13 without undue harm to system performance/lifespan, install the highest feasible MERV level.
- Filter inspection/replacement per manufacturer guidelines.
- HVAC repairs/upgrades/replacements must be done by the defined skilled and trained workforce; adjustments must be done by qualified adjusting personnel (certified TAB technicians or equivalent).
- Rulemaking: DoH and DoE authorized to adopt implementing regulations.
- Effective upon passage (per bill text).
Who and what would be affected
- Public school districts and school buildings across the state (physical plant, maintenance, capital planning).
- School Building Authority / capital planning processes: identified IAQ deficiencies must be included with remediation cost estimates in capital construction/reconstruction/maintenance needs per §16-105-3.
- Contractors, HVAC technicians, TAB technicians, and apprenticeship programs (workforce and certification requirements).
- Students, staff, and school communities — potential health and comfort benefits from improved IAQ and filtration.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Health benefits: potential reductions in airborne particulates and CO2-related impacts on cognition and comfort.
- Costs: inspections every five years, HVAC upgrades, higher-efficiency filters, installation of CO2 sensors, and potential need for system retrofits could require capital investment and increased maintenance spending. Those costs would be integrated into school capital plans.
- Practical limits: older HVAC systems may not support MERV 13; bill requires highest feasible MERV without degrading system performance.
- Workforce/implementation: emphasis on certified technicians and apprenticeship participation could raise labor quality but also affect contractor availability and costs.
- Transparency: online publication of results increases accountability and local awareness.
Legislative status and next steps
- As of 03/18/2025 the committee recommended holding the measure for further study; subsequent committee action on 05/01/2025 failed to produce an affirmative vote. If revived, the bill would require DoH and DoE rulemaking and coordination with local boards and the School Building Authority to implement.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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