Sponsors (48)
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Renames the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), expands and permanently authorizes larger funding, and creates a new federal grants program to fund state and local “just transition” plans that reduce home energy use and shift homes away from fossil fuels. It also tightens eligibility and program rules, requires new consumer protections (including limits on shutoffs and fees), sets data‑sharing and arrearage‑tracking requirements, funds utility‑bill assistance and home energy repairs, and mandates studies, plans, and reporting to Congress. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Energy to run new grants, sets multi-year funding authorizations (including $1 billion+ annually beginning FY2026), requires States to adopt simplified verification, outreach, and re‑enrollment practices, and prioritizes funding for electrification, home repairs, weatherization, community solar access, and protections for households during disasters and extreme-heat/cold events.
Amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 by striking the first place the program name appears in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of section 2607A(b) (42 U.S.C. 8626a(b)).
Amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 by striking text in section 2607B(e)(2)(B)(ii) (42 U.S.C. 8626b(e)(2)(B)(ii)) as specified in the section (text shown in source: "by striking .").
Provide that any reference in any other Federal law (other than the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981), Executive order, rule, regulation, delegation of authority, or any document, to the "Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program" shall be deemed to refer to the "Home Energy Assistance Program."
Amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 by inserting a new section 2607C titled 'HEAP just transition grants' after section 2607B.
Authorize a joint grant program to be carried out by 'The Secretary' and the Secretary of Energy to make grants to States and local governments.
Primary impacts:
Low‑income and moderate‑income households: The bill expands eligibility rules, simplifies re‑enrollment, increases funding, and adds protections against utility shutoffs and fees, which should increase the number of households receiving direct bill assistance, arrearage relief, cooling aid, and weatherization/home‑repair support. The new statutory energy‑burden goal (3% of income) is intended to reduce long‑term household energy stress but will depend on program execution, weatherization capacity, and appliance replacement efforts.
Renters and homeowners: Both groups can benefit from expanded direct bill assistance, subsidized home repairs, appliance replacement (especially electrification), and access to community solar; renters may still face barriers if landlords do not cooperate, so state rules and incentives will matter.
State and local governments: States must adopt new verification/data‑sharing procedures, create or designate HEAP coordinators and local coordinating agencies, administer new grant programs, meet conditions to receive disaster/emergency funding, and prioritize energy‑related repairs and electrification. The bill provides authorized funding and grants to assist implementation but will require administrative adjustments and interagency coordination.
Utilities and home‑energy suppliers: New reporting obligations, arrearage tracking, and limits on fees/shutoffs will change utility operations, billing and collections practices. Utilities are prohibited from raising rates to recover HEAP payments that pay off customer arrears; they will need to cooperate with data exchanges and state program requirements.
Weatherization and clean‑energy contractors, community solar developers, and workforce: Increased emphasis and dedicated funds for weatherization, home repairs, and electrification are likely to increase demand for contractors and skilled labor in retrofit and electrification work. The bill also includes preferences and funding to expand community solar for eligible households.
FEMA and emergency responders: The law expands the role of HHS and FEMA in coordinating heating/cooling assistance during disasters and extreme weather events, requiring new operational frameworks and funding flows for emergency HEAP support.
Overall program administration and oversight: Federal agencies (HHS + DOE, FEMA) will need to create forms, technical guidance, data standards, conduct studies, and issue multiple reports; Congress will receive evaluations and recommendations. Implementation complexity and state capacity will influence the speed and equity of benefits delivery.
Uncertainties and constraints:
Amends 42 U.S.C. 8621 by (1) modifying subsection (b)'s parenthetical cross-reference to add sections 2604(e), 2605(u), 2607A, 2607B, and 2607C and by replacing the numeric authorization language in subsection (b) with "such sums as may be necessary..."; (2) amending subsection (e)'s first sentence by striking "$600,000,000" and inserting language specifying amounts for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter; and (3) adding a new subsection (f) that authorizes appropriations to carry out section 2607C, including grants under that section, with specified amounts for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Adds a new subsection (u) to 42 U.S.C. 8624 establishing requirements to develop a standardized template for tracking and reporting home energy payment arrears, issue guidance within 1 year on paying arrearages through the program funded under section 2602(b), implement a data tracking system and guidance in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, authorize grants to States to implement data tracking and reporting, and authorize such sums as may be necessary.
Amends 42 U.S.C. 8623 by (1) updating a cross-reference in subsection (a)(1)(B) from section 2605(b)(9)(B) to section 2605(b)(10)(B), and (2) striking and replacing subsection (e) to add definitions (including "covered household" and an expanded definition of "major disaster") and to impose requirements for provision of heating and cooling assistance following a declaration or determination of a natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster, and for State assurances required to receive such assistance.
Redesignates several existing numbered definition paragraphs and inserts new definition paragraphs, adding definitions for 'extreme heat'/'extreme cold' periods, 'HEAP coordinator', 'local coordinating agency', and 'State agency'.
Adds a new section (2607C) to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act establishing 'HEAP just transition grants,' a joint grant program carried out by the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy providing 3-year grants to States and local governments to develop and implement interagency plans to reduce energy burdens for eligible households with high home energy use, including grant preferences and a required evaluation and report to Congress.
In subsection (b) (the matter preceding paragraph (1)), strikes the first occurrence of the program name as part of renaming references to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the Home Energy Assistance Program.
In subsection (e)(2)(B)(ii), strikes the (specified) occurrence of the program name as part of renaming references to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the Home Energy Assistance Program.
Amends subsection (b)(1) of 42 U.S.C. 8629 by replacing the listed cross-references to clauses/paragraphs of section 2605(b) with a different list.
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced March 31, 2025 by Yassamin Ansari · Last progress March 31, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House