HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1318        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to automatic re-enrollment in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1318        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3180 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to automatic re-enrollment in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 174 of the Acts of 2022, as most recently amended by Chapter 7 of the Acts of 2023, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “benefits” the second time it appears the following: -

“When developing such portal, said agencies shall ensure that individuals and households who apply and receive fuel assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will be automatically re-enrolled for such benefits for the following heating season, so long as such persons or households continue to meet the federal and state eligibility requirements, as determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. For the purposes of this section, the term “heating season” shall mean the period between November 1 and April 30 of each year, unless otherwise designated by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.”