Oregon Bill Passed After Deadly Heat Wave Protects Portable Ac Units, But Not All Types (Latest News)

There is no way around air conditioning, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where temperatures can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit for days on end as a result of global warming.

It is estimated that 100 Oregonians died in 2021 when Portland reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit during a heat dome event. Nearly everyone in that crowd had no access to air conditioning.

Lacey Beaty, the mayor of Beaverton, was inspired by that incident to seek legislation that would bar landlords from prohibiting the use of portable air conditioners in their properties.

Residents of a low-income apartment complex in Newberg, Oregon, were sent eviction warnings earlier this month after installing window air conditioners despite SB 1536, which states that landlords cannot restrict or prohibit renters from using any portable

"When new rules take effect, not everyone is immediately aware of them. So, you may begin by simply discussing the situation with them and the implications it has for your apartment complex."

If you study the fine print of SB 1536, there are numerous exceptions that allow landlords to limit window air conditioners.

People could only use a window-mounted moving floor unit to cool their homes, which seems to be the only option.