H.R. 9959: Green New Deal for Public Schools Act

This bill would create a federal grant program to help schools build new public school facilities and retrofit existing ones so they are designed to be energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and free of carbon emissions. The program would also support school staffing and equity-related needs, with a focus on schools and districts that have the greatest need.

What the funding could be used for

• New school construction and major building upgrades.
• Climate and energy improvements, such as renewable energy systems, efficiency upgrades, and features that improve resilience to extreme weather and other climate-related risks.
• Accessibility improvements so school facilities better serve students and staff with disabilities.
• Hiring and supporting school personnel and related community-based programs.
• Education equity initiatives, including plans related to staffing, student support, discipline reform, and long-term sustainability.

How grants would be awarded and managed

• Applicants would need to submit plans showing how they will handle staffing, equity, discipline practices, and long-term maintenance and sustainability.
• The program would prioritize high-need districts and the schools most vulnerable to poor facilities or climate impacts.
• Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education would receive priority consideration.
• Some funding would support regional equity planning, as well as grants connected to IDEA, ESEA, and climate-resilience goals.

Rules attached to the funding

• Projects would be required to follow labor-related rules and certain domestic sourcing requirements, including Buy American-type provisions.
• The bill says funds cannot be used for punitive or surveillance-based purposes in schools.
• It also places a cap on how much of the money can go to certain projects under section 203(b)(3).

Reporting and funding

• The program would require annual reports to Congress on how effective the grants are.
• The bill would authorize and appropriate $4 billion per year from 2027 through 2037.

Relevant Companies

• DE - Could benefit from demand for construction and maintenance equipment used in school building and retrofit projects.
• CAT - Could see increased demand for heavy equipment used in school construction and infrastructure upgrades.
• TT - May be impacted by increased demand for HVAC and building climate-control systems in school retrofits.
• JCI - Could be affected by demand for building systems, energy efficiency, and climate-resilience upgrades in schools.
• ROK - May be indirectly affected if schools invest in automation, controls, or building management systems tied to facility upgrades.
• ENPH - Could benefit from school adoption of solar and other renewable-energy technologies.
• SEDG - Could benefit from school projects that install solar and related energy systems.