Texas appeals order requiring prison air conditioning, saying it puts operations at risk

Texas is appealing a federal judge's order requiring air conditioning in prisons, claiming the mandate risks operational stability. The TDCJ estimates that implementing climate control would cost $1.5 billion, arguing the order creates chaos and confusion within the largest prison system in the country. Currently, only about one third of state prisons are fully climate controlled, meaning approximately 90,000 incarcerated Texans remain without air conditioning as of October 1.