More To Be Eligible For Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

SPRINGFIELD, IL — A measure sponsored by a local state senator to expand eligibility for energy assistance has unanimously passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly.

House Bill 4141 allows people living in subsidized housing, those with rental expenses no more than 30% of their household income or whose energy bill is part of their rent to apply for the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) was the chief senate sponsor of the measure.

“No person should have to worry about how they are going to afford their utility bills,” Villivalam said in a statement. “Expanding LIHEAP provides us a unique opportunity to give some of our most vulnerable residents a sense of security.”

The bill was first filed in September 2023 by Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine.) It passed the Illinois House unanimously last month, after which Villivalam became a sponsor.

"[The bill] revises the current language in the Energy Assistance Act to ensure that all individuals who receive rent subsidies can still receive heat and gas assistance through LIHEAP," Syed said on social media after House passage. "This concern was brought to us from a 51st District resident. I'm really proud that the bills we have been working hard on are related to our community and address real concerns that constituents have."

HB 4141 passed the Illinois Senate unanimously Wednesday. It now heads to Gov. Pritzker's desk for his signature.

For the fiscal year ending last June, the governor signed a budget allocating an additional $90 million to LIHEAP to help low-income residents avoid having their utilities disconnected.

“By expanding the eligibility for this program, we are continuing to invest in our community,” Villivalam said. “Home energy is a basic human right – we should treat it as such.”