New EPA Bill Creates $100M/Year Program to Clean Up Indoor Air, Starting with Schools and Daycares

The “Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025” sets up a brand new, comprehensive program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focused entirely on what’s floating around inside our homes, offices, and kids’ schools. Essentially, the bill tasks the EPA Administrator with assessing, reducing, and avoiding exposure to indoor air contaminants across the country, backed by a significant funding authorization of $100 million annually from 2026 through 2030 (SEC. 11).

The EPA’s New To-Do List: What’s Actually Changing?

This isn't just about mold; it’s a full-spectrum approach to indoor air quality. The EPA must create and maintain a list of “indoor contaminants of concern,” which initially must include common culprits like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, and radon (SEC. 4). For each item on that list, the EPA is required to publish voluntary, science-based guidelines. These guidelines will include recommendations for building design, operation, and renovation, aiming for a significant reduction in health risks. This means that within five years, we should have clear, federal benchmarks on how clean the air should be inside buildings.

Crucially, the guidelines must include recommended, health-based concentration limits, sometimes providing a range: one level for healthy adults, and another, stricter level for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and pregnant women (SEC. 4). This move recognizes that a construction worker might handle a certain level of exposure fine, but a toddler in a daycare cannot. If you’re a parent, this is the part of the bill that matters most, as it creates a scientific foundation for demanding cleaner air in the places your kids spend their time.

Making the Grade: Certifications and School Upgrades

One of the biggest impacts is the focus on educational facilities. The bill mandates a national assessment of indoor air quality in schools and licensed childcare facilities within three years, with updates every five years (SEC. 9). The EPA will look at how well these buildings meet recognized ventilation standards. The goal is to identify problem areas and provide targeted guidance, training, and technical support specifically for these facilities.

For building owners and operators, the bill introduces a voluntary “Healthy Building Certification” (SEC. 7). To get this stamp of approval, a building must follow the EPA's new guidelines and maintain an approved indoor air quality management plan. While this certification is voluntary, it’s easy to see how it could become a de facto standard in the commercial real estate and public building sectors, pushing owners to invest in better filtration and ventilation systems. This could mean higher operating costs for building managers, but cleaner air for the people who work inside.

The Fine Print: What Local Governments Need to Know

State and local governments, school districts, and housing authorities can apply for federal financial and technical assistance to set up and run their own air quality programs (SEC. 6). However, there’s a catch: any organization receiving this financial aid must cover at least 25 percent of the total cost themselves. For a small, underfunded school district or a local housing authority, finding that 25% match could be a significant hurdle, potentially limiting who can actually access the federal funds.

Additionally, the EPA is required to develop “model provisions” for building codes within one year, covering minimum standards for ventilation, filtration, and air cleaning (SEC. 8). While these are only suggestions for states and local governments to adopt, they create a clear path for updating outdated building codes to prioritize public health alongside energy efficiency. The bill wisely requires the EPA to consult with the Department of Energy to ensure these new air quality standards don't conflict with existing energy efficiency rules, but allows the air quality standards to be stricter if needed.