A bill for an act relating to the low-income home energy assistance program eligibility requirements.

This bill (HSB 308) expands eligibility for Iowa's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by raising the income threshold from 150% to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL). It specifically allows households to qualify if they live in an area where an electric utility raised rates between July 2023 and July 2025, meet other standard program requirements, and have income at or below 250% FPL. Eligibility ends four years after the utility's rate increase. The bill also requires electric utilities to cover increased program costs through fees - nonprofits may charge non-participating customers, but for-profits cannot pass fees to ratepayers.