Federal judge orders Texas to install air conditioning in all prisons by 2029 at a cost of $1.5 billion

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026 · last updated 23 September 2026.

US District Judge Robert Pitman has ruled that Texas must fit air conditioning across every one of its prisons by the end of 2029, finding that the searing summer heat — routinely topping 38°C — amounts to cruel and unusual punishment under the US Constitution. The 150-page ruling follows a landmark 2025 finding that the conditions were "plainly unconstitutional," and came after a full trial earlier this year. At the time of the trial, roughly 89,000 inmates were housed in facilities with no meaningful cooling. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has estimated the full upgrade will cost around $1.5 billion.

Prisoners testified they passed out, fell sick and routinely splashed toilet water on themselves just to cool down.

The case was originally filed in 2023 by Bernie Tiede, a former mortician serving life for murder whose story inspired a Hollywood film.

Judge Pitman wrote bluntly: 'These are not humane conditions' — and the state agency had no immediate comment.