An Act to Address Poverty by Increasing Access to Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1437
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: WARREN, TALBOT ROSS
Amends: 38 MRSA §577-A

Legislative Document
No. 1437
H.P. 933
House of Representatives, March 30, 2023
An Act to Address Poverty by Increasing Access to Energy 
Efficiency and Weatherization Programs
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WARREN of Scarborough.
Cosponsored by Representative: Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §577-A, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 476, §9, is amended 
to read:
10.  Report.  Beginning January 15, 2021, and annually thereafter, the council shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
environment and natural resources matters describing the activities of the council, the 
subcommittee and its working groups over the prior calendar year and including any 
findings and recommendations of the council, including any proposed legislation. The 
report must include specific recommendations to assist low-income residents of the State. 
After reviewing the report, the joint standing committee may report out legislation to 
implement any recommendations contained in the report.
Sec. 2.  Rules relating to home energy assistance programs.  The Department 
of Health and Human Services, the Maine State Housing Authority and the Efficiency 
Maine Trust shall amend their rules as necessary to ensure that the Home Energy Assistance 
Program and federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program resources are 
distributed in the most expedited manner possible.
Sec. 3.  Rules relating to energy efficiency programs.  The Efficiency Maine 
Trust and the Maine State Housing Authority shall amend their rules as necessary to more 
fully address the needs of low-income individuals relating to energy efficiency programs, 
including, but not limited to, by amending their rules to remove the term "low-income" 
from home energy assistance program materials, add cooling pumps to references to 
heating pumps and authorize mobile homes built after 1976 to qualify for weatherization 
assistance programs. The Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine State Housing Authority 
shall consult each other and the Maine Climate Council in the adoption of rules pursuant 
to this section. The Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine State Housing Authority shall 
jointly submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and 
Technology no later than December 6, 2023 with recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for any statutory changes needed to implement this section.
Sec. 4.  Rules relating to energy efficiency and weatherization services.  The 
Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine State Housing Authority shall amend their rules as 
necessary to prioritize programming that combines energy efficiency and weatherization 
services, including prioritizing the distribution of state funds, private funds and bond 
measures for that programming and requiring energy auditors to recommend sustainable 
heating solutions, including heating and cooling pumps.
Sec. 5.  Rules relating to weatherization assistance programs and social 
services.  The Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine State Housing Authority shall amend 
their rules to combine weatherization assistance programs with social services, when 
reasonable and feasible, in circumstances that result in a net savings of state funds and that 
advance social equity.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Maine Climate Council to include in its annual report specific 
recommendations to assist low-income residents of the State. The bill also directs the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine State Housing Authority and the 
Efficiency Maine Trust to amend their rules relating to home energy assistance programs, 
energy efficiency programs and weatherization assistance programs.