New Heat Mitigation Act Allocates $30 Million Annually to Cool Down Cities, Prioritizing 75% of Funds for Low-Income Neighborhoods

If you live in a city, you know that summer heat isn't just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025 is trying to fix that by setting up a major federal grant program to cool down the hottest parts of our urban landscapes. This bill, authorized for $30 million annually through 2033, establishes the Urban Heat Mitigation and Management Grant Program, managed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its core mission is to fund projects that directly combat the "excess urban heat effect"—that phenomenon where cities, with all their concrete and lack of trees, trap heat and get significantly hotter than surrounding areas. The bill is clear: heat stress is the top weather-related killer in the U.S., and our cities are currently built to make the problem worse.

The Environmental Justice Mandate: Where the Money Goes

This isn't a program for general urban beautification; it has a sharp focus on equity. The bill mandates that at least 75% of the grant money awarded each year must go to projects located in a “covered census tract.” What’s a covered tract? It’s a neighborhood where at least 20% of residents live in poverty, or an area that was historically marked as hazardous or declining (often referred to as redlined) on old Home Owners Loan Corporation maps. This provision directly acknowledges the finding that low-income and minority communities suffer the most from urban heat, often having less tree cover and significantly higher surface temperatures. If you live in one of these neighborhoods, this bill means your community is now a priority for major cooling investments.

Cooling Centers, Cool Pavement, and Community Gardens

The range of projects eligible for funding is broad, covering everything from planting trees to installing high-tech infrastructure. An “eligible project” includes things like planting and maintaining shade trees (with a preference for native species), installing “cool pavements” and “cool roofs” to reflect sunlight, and building shade structures at bus and transit stops. Crucially for working families, the bill also allows funding for cooling centers, ideally ones that are open year-round and partner with existing community centers. This means that when the next heat wave hits, your local library or community center might be a designated, well-funded, and permanent refuge from the heat.

The Fine Print: Matching Funds and Community Buy-In

If your local government or a non-profit wants to apply for this money, they have to do two things. First, they must show a strong commitment to community engagement, demonstrating how they will involve residents in the decision-making process from start to finish. This is the bill’s way of ensuring that the solutions are actually what the community needs, not just what a city planner thinks is best. Second, applicants generally have to cover 20% of the project’s total cost. However, the Secretary has the power to waive this requirement and cover 100% of the cost if the applicant can prove they are facing economic hardship. This waiver is key—it prevents financially struggling communities from being locked out of the program simply because they can’t afford the local match. On the other hand, it means local entities in wealthier areas that apply for the remaining 25% of the funding will almost certainly have to find that 20% match.

Broad Authority and Oversight

To manage this new program, the bill sets up an oversight board with experts from various federal agencies and non-profits. This board will score grant applications and review progress. While the bill defines most eligible projects clearly, it does give the Secretary the authority to approve “Any other action the Secretary decides is appropriate for cutting down on excess urban heat.” This broad language gives HUD significant flexibility to fund innovative solutions but also means the direction of the program could shift depending on who is running the agency. Overall, the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act is a tangible, funded plan to tackle a deadly problem, directing resources and infrastructure upgrades to the people who need them most.