Heating and Cooling Relief Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2486

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-31: 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.

Last Updated

2026-01-10T07:12:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act (H.R. 2486) aims to update and expand the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), originally established in 1981, to better address rising home energy costs for low- and moderate-income households. It focuses on reducing "energy burdens" (the percentage of income spent on energy bills), increasing access to heating and cooling aid, and adapting to climate change impacts like extreme temperatures, storms, and disasters. The bill emphasizes protecting vulnerable families from shutoffs, promoting renewable energy, and ensuring year-round assistance.

Key Provisions

• Funding Increases: Authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" for core program funding to cover all eligible households, replacing fixed caps (e.g., raises regular funding from $2 billion to flexible levels; contingency funds from $600 million to $2 billion starting in FY 2026; adds $1 billion annually for new "just transition" grants).
• Expanded Definitions: Adds terms like "extreme heat" or "extreme cold" (periods raising risks of illness, death, or energy failures); "HEAP coordinator" (program administrators paid with federal funds); "local coordinating agency" (local groups handling applications); and "State agency" (state-level program overseers).
• Emergency and Disaster Assistance: Broadens aid for natural disasters, public health emergencies, or extreme temperatures (as declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or President). Requires coordination with FEMA for heating/cooling in affected areas; states must assure no barriers to aid based on prior assistance or medical needs, and allow funds for energy-efficient cooling equipment like air conditioners.
• Eligibility and Application Simplification: Extends eligibility to households at or below 250% of the federal poverty level or 80% of state median income (whichever is higher). Prohibits exclusion based on citizenship. Mandates states to use data-sharing with programs like SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid (health coverage for low-income people), and SSI (income support for elderly/disabled) for verification; allow self-attestation of eligibility without proof of citizenship; and simplify re-enrollment for fixed-income households.
• Energy Burden Limits and Affordability Measures: Requires states, where possible, to cap eligible households' energy spending at 3% of income using federal funds plus state/utility programs. Prioritizes lowest-income households for reductions.
• Conditions on States and Utilities: States must ensure utilities receiving funds: waive late fees for 12 months around payment receipt; refund prior fees within 7 days; avoid shutoffs for 2 years post-assistance; share data on overdue bills for outreach; include program info in late-payment notices; and offer low-income payment plans within 2 years. Increases administrative funding cap from 10% to 15%, requiring year-round operations, online applications within 5 years, minimum wages for coordinators ($15/hour or local minimum), training, rural outreach, and auto-enrollment efforts.
• Weatherization and Efficiency: Raises weatherization funding limit from 15% to 25% of grants; prioritizes repairs using non-toxic materials, fossil fuel reduction (e.g., switching to electric heat pumps powered by renewables), and access to community solar or distributed renewable energy.
• Data Collection and Studies: Creates a standardized template for tracking arrears (overdue bills), late fees, and shutoffs among eligible households. Requires guidance on paying arrears directly; prohibits utilities from recovering costs via rate hikes on low-income customers. Authorizes grants for state data systems and a multi-year study on shutoff/fee rates.
• Outreach and Planning: Mandates guidance for partnering with schools to enroll families with children; outreach to medically vulnerable people (e.g., those using electric ventilators); promotion of clean energy rebates/tax credits; state action plans for extreme heat; reviews to add vulnerable groups (e.g., pregnant women); and state plans for retrofitting low-income housing with efficient cooling, weatherization, and hazard fixes (e.g., mold, lead). Requires a report on safe temperature standards for federally assisted housing.
• Program Name Change: Renames LIHEAP to the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), with conforming updates across federal laws.
• Just Transition Grants: Establishes a 3-year grant program (jointly run by HHS and Department of Energy) for states/local governments to develop plans reducing energy burdens via decarbonization (shifting from fossil fuels), prioritizing high-burden households, and partnering with workforce/union/minority-owned businesses for repairs. Includes a final evaluation report to Congress.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Funding and Scope: Shifts from capped authorizations to open-ended "necessary" funding to reach all eligible households, with specific boosts for contingencies and new grants; emphasizes cooling aid (previously only 3-7% of funds) and year-round access (vs. seasonal).
• Eligibility Expansion: Raises income thresholds and removes citizenship barriers; adds presumed eligibility via other aid programs and self-attestation, reducing paperwork.
• Utility Regulations: Introduces new mandates on fees, shutoffs, data sharing, and affordability programs, which were not previously required.
• Weatherization Priorities: Increases funding share and shifts focus to clean energy transitions (e.g., electrification, renewables), beyond basic efficiency.
• Immigrant Access: Explicitly states HEAP aid is not a "federal public benefit" under welfare reform laws, allowing broader access without immigration penalties.
• Reporting and Planning: Adds requirements for data templates, arrears payment guidance, extreme heat plans, vulnerability reviews, and housing temperature standards—none of which existed before.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could benefit up to 100% of eligible low/moderate-income households (vs. current 18% reach) by lowering energy bills, preventing shutoffs (affecting 1 in 7 households in arrears), reducing homelessness/evictions tied to utility loss, and improving health/resilience against heat/cold extremes. Promotes access to renewables, potentially cutting long-term costs and emissions.
• On Government Agencies: Increases workload for HHS (e.g., guidance, studies, grants), states (year-round ops, plans, data systems), and FEMA/DOE (coordinated disaster aid, retrofits). Requires more federal spending (open-ended authorizations) but enables fuller program implementation.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though emphasis on climate adaptation and fossil fuel reduction aligns with U.S. global clean energy commitments (e.g., via rebates from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act).

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Primary beneficiaries, especially those with high energy burdens (e.g., 1 in 4 spending >15% of income), families with children, medically vulnerable individuals, and immigrants.
• State and Local Agencies: Must expand operations, simplify applications, and develop plans; gain more admin funds but face new compliance requirements.
• Utility Companies (Home Energy Suppliers): Subject to fee waivers, shutoff bans, data sharing, and affordability programs; prohibited from cost recovery via rates on low-income users.
• Federal Agencies: HHS leads expansions/studies; DOE assists on energy/retrofits; FEMA coordinates disasters; Education/HUD departments provide input on outreach/housing.
• Community Partners: Schools, workforce programs, unions, minority/women-owned businesses, and rural co-ops involved in outreach, repairs, and enrollment.
• Vulnerable Groups: Households in disaster-prone or hot/cold areas, those in arrears ($21+ billion nationally), and renters in federally assisted housing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens the social safety net by mandating affordability measures and anti-shutoff protections, potentially reducing litigation over utility disconnections or discrimination. Clarifies HEAP's non-status as a "public benefit" under 1996 welfare laws, easing access for non-citizens without conflicting with immigration rules. Authorizes new grants/studies, requiring congressional appropriations for implementation.
• Constitutional: Involves federal spending power to condition aid on state actions (e.g., year-round programs), which is standard but could face challenges if seen as coercive; promotes equal protection by simplifying access and prohibiting citizenship-based exclusions.
• Political: Highlights climate change (e.g., rising disasters, heat waves) as a driver for social policy, potentially bridging energy affordability with environmental goals. As an amendment to a bipartisan 1981 law, it builds on existing framework but introduces progressive elements like renewable transitions and immigrant inclusion, which may spark debates on funding levels and utility regulations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

Cosponsors (47)

Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-31: 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.
• 2025-03-31: 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.
• 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Heating and Cooling Relief Act — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (32 pages)

Related Bills

• S. 1214 (119th Congress)