A new bill filed by State Rep. Bryan Cohn in the North Carolina House seeks to ensure landlords provide and maintain working air conditioning in residential rentals, 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.
Cohn, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 32nd House district, replacing previous state representative Frank Sossamon.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Cohn, Gloristine Brown, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 879 | 04/09/2025 | Air Conditioning for Rental Properties. |
| Bryan Cohn, Deb Butler, Mike Colvin, and Pricey Harrison | HB 881 | 04/09/2025 | PFAS Free NC. |
| Bryan Cohn, Allen Buansi, Phil Rubin, and Shelly Willingham | HB 788 | 04/03/2025 | Fix Our Democracy. |
| Bryan Cohn, B. Ray Jeffers, Dante Pittman, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 685 | 04/01/2025 | Rural NC Reinvestment Act. |
| Bryan Cohn, B. Ray Jeffers, Dante Pittman, and Sarah Crawford | HB 619 | 03/31/2025 | Health Care Security Act. |
| Bryan Cohn, James Roberson, Kanika Brown, and Phil Rubin | HB 548 | 03/26/2025 | NC Economic Progress and Well-Being. |
| Bryan Cohn, Charles Smith, Laura Budd, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 499 | 03/24/2025 | NC Paid Family Leave Insurance Act. |
| Bryan Cohn, Lindsey Prather, Robert T. Reives, II, and Vernetta Alston | HB 503 | 03/24/2025 | Don’t Tread on Me Act. |
| Bryan Cohn, Beth Helfrich, Dante Pittman, and Lindsey Prather | HB 473 | 03/20/2025 | Right to IVF. |
| Bryan Cohn, Aisha O. Dew, Carolyn G. Logan, and Kanika Brown | HB 374 | 03/11/2025 | NCARCOG Funding/Operations Improvements. |
| Bryan Cohn, Aisha O. Dew, Allison A. Dahle, and Marcia Morey | HB 353 | 03/10/2025 | Fair Minimum Wage Act. |
| Bryan Cohn, Frances Jackson, PhD, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 267 | 03/03/2025 | Expunging Certain Eviction Records. |
| Bryan Cohn, Carolyn G. Logan, Kanika Brown, and Sarah Crawford | HB 269 | 03/03/2025 | Workforce Freedom and Protection Act. |
| Bryan Cohn | HB 255 | 02/27/2025 | SchCalFlex/Granville,Vance/Open Cal. |
| Bryan Cohn, Kanika Brown, Sarah Crawford, and Tracy Clark | HB 115 | 02/12/2025 | Child Care Facility Tax Exemption. |
| Bryan Cohn | HB 101 | 02/11/2025 | Prop. Tax Appeal Process Transparency. |
| Bryan Cohn | HB 102 | 02/11/2025 | Real Property Appraisal – Owner Notification. |
| Bryan Cohn | HB 68 | 02/05/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Granville & Vance. |
