Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House requiring air conditioning in rentals

A new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark in the North Carolina House seeks to ensure landlords provide and maintain working air conditioning systems for tenants, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 879 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Air Conditioning for Rental Properties.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that landlords provide functional air conditioning in residential rental units, ensuring the system can maintain a reasonable indoor temperature during warm weather. It requires landlords to guarantee that the air conditioning system is in good working order at the start of each tenancy. Landlords must also maintain and promptly repair all necessary facilities, including air conditioning, once tenants submit written notifications of required repairs, except in emergencies. The legislation takes effect upon becoming law and applies to new and renewed residential rental agreements from that date forward.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Pricey Harrison proposed the most bills (48) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Clark graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a BA and again in 2012 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Clark, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 57th House district, replacing previous state representative Ashton Clemmons.