Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2025

This bill authorizes a national program led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess, reduce, and prevent human exposure to indoor air contaminants in order to protect public health. It covers buildings such as schools, childcare facilities, workplaces, public buildings, and residences.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including "indoor air contaminant" as any solid, liquid, or gaseous material in indoor air that may harm human health, and "indoor contaminant of concern" as commonly occurring or high-risk contaminants. Also defines covered childcare facilities, local educational agencies, and states.

Sec. 3, Indoor Air Quality Program: Requires the EPA Administrator to run a program supporting research, listing contaminants, publishing guidelines, providing training and technical assistance, recognizing voluntary building certifications, improving air quality in schools and childcare facilities, coordinating with other federal agencies, and assisting state, local, and tribal governments. The program must consider disadvantaged communities.

Sec. 4, Guidelines for Indoor Contaminants of Concern: Directs the EPA to create and maintain a list of indoor contaminants of concern within five years, initially including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, and radon. The EPA must publish voluntary, science-based guidelines for each contaminant, including recommended health-based concentration limits if sufficient evidence exists, and review the list and guidelines every five years.

Sec. 5, Indoor Air Quality Index: Requires the EPA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences within one year to study the feasibility of a science-based indoor air quality index. The Academy must report to Congress within two years with recommendations, methodologies, and challenges. Authorizes $1,000,000 for this section.

Sec. 6, Indoor Air Quality Assistance: Authorizes the EPA to provide technical and financial assistance, including grants, to governments, schools, housing authorities, and nonprofits for programs to assess and improve indoor air quality. Funds may be used for education, training, monitoring, mitigation of climate change impacts, and adoption of guidelines. The federal share cannot exceed 75% of costs.

Sec. 7, Healthy Building Certifications: Requires the EPA to establish voluntary certifications for buildings that exemplarily prevent or minimize health risks from indoor air contaminants. Certified buildings must follow EPA guidelines and maintain an indoor air quality management plan. The EPA may administer certifications directly or recognize third-party processes.

Sec. 8, Model Provisions for Building Design, Operation, and Maintenance: Within one year, the EPA must recommend model provisions for building codes addressing ventilation, filtration, and air cleaning. The provisions must be reviewed every three years, and the EPA must consult with experts and the Department of Energy to avoid conflicts with energy codes. Within 12 months, the EPA must estimate costs and 30-year health benefits for new homes and commercial buildings.

Sec. 9, Healthy Schools: Requires the EPA to conduct a national assessment of indoor air quality in schools and covered childcare facilities within three years, with updates every five years. The EPA must provide tailored guidance and technical assistance, ensure at least one certification type applies to these buildings, and coordinate with other federal agencies on building assistance.

Sec. 10, Relation to Other Law: States that the bill does not preempt any state or federal law, and the EPA cannot be considered to be exercising authority over occupational safety or health under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Sec. 11, Authorization of Appropriations: Authorizes $100,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the Act, excluding section 5.