Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is sponsoring a new bill to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat in urban areas across the U.S.
As heat-related deaths in Arizona have increased, local leaders in the state have called for a more permanent source of federal funding to protect people from extreme temperatures.
In the last few summers, Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix largely relied on temporary pandemic relief funds to pay for cooling centers and other heat relief initiatives.
In his Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act, Gallego is proposing to create a $30 million grant program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Local governments, tribes or nonprofits could use the grants for things like cool roof technology, tree planting or cooling centers.
The Democrat-backed bill is likely to face long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress.
-
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs wants ongoing funding for energy assistance programs, but she needs support from Republican lawmakers to make it happen. -
As temperatures continue to rise, the risk of rattlesnake encounters does as well. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is warning people to stay aware of these animals when going out. -
Maricopa County's chief medical officer said the county saw 427 heat deaths in 2025, down from 608 the year before. -
Under a proposal from SRP management, customers would see a 3% decrease on power bills May through October this year. That would save the average residential customer about $5.57 per month. -
An Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health advisory committee vote on proposed heat safety regulations fell short of what labor rights groups were hoping for.
