Bill
S 1014
Creates a LIHEAP-driven sewer and water relief program for low-income homeowners; benefits up to 25% of annual bills, funded by appropriation and run through LIHEAP partners.
Summary — S.1014: "An Act to provide sewer and water rate relief" (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
Note on source materials
- The documents you provided include two distinct pieces of legislation that share the identifier “S 1014.” This summary focuses on the Massachusetts measure titled “An Act to provide sewer and water rate relief” (Senate Docket No. 2213 / presented by Senator Mark C. Montigny). The packet also contains unrelated Idaho statute text (a separate SB 1014 concerning newborn screening and ocular prophylaxis); that Idaho bill is not summarized here beyond this note.
Purpose and intent
- Establish a low‑income sewer and water assistance program to help eligible homeowners pay sewer and water bills, modeled on and coordinated with the federal Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Key provisions
- Program operation and funding
- The Department (as defined in chapter 23B §24B) shall operate the program subject to appropriation.
- Benefits paid cannot exceed the total amount appropriated for the program.
- Eligibility
- Households eligible for LIHEAP (42 U.S.C. §8621 et seq.) are eligible for this sewer/water assistance.
- Administration and coordination
- The program may be administered in coordination with LIHEAP and shall use the same grantee agencies, similar applications, and verification procedures to the maximum extent practicable.
- Grantee agencies may use up to 10% of program funds for administrative costs.
- Benefit design and limits
- No individual household’s benefit may exceed 25% of that household’s total annual water and sewer bill.
- The department must set benefit levels and maximums so total benefits remain within appropriation limits.
- Program participation conditions
- Households receiving benefits must not “unreasonably refuse” to cooperate with no‑cost, demand‑side water conservation programs offered by local agencies or authorities.
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: Low‑income homeowners who qualify for LIHEAP.
- Administrators: State department administering the program and existing LIHEAP grantee agencies (local nonprofits, community action agencies, etc.).
- Utilities and local water/sewer authorities: may see changes in collections and may be asked to coordinate on conservation programs.
- State budget: program is subject to appropriation; total outlays limited to amounts provided by the Legislature.
Fiscal and procedural notes
- The bill is explicitly subject to appropriation; benefits are capped by the available appropriation and administrative spending is limited to 10% of funds.
- Legislative status in provided materials:
- Filed in the Senate (Senate Docket No. 2213) on 01/17/2025; presented by Sen. Mark C. Montigny.
- Referred to the committee on Housing (per docket notes).
- No fiscal note or appropriation amount is included in the provided text.
- Recommendation: confirm current committee assignment, hearing dates, and whether an appropriation has been proposed or enacted before assuming program launch.
Concise impact assessment
- If funded, the program provides a targeted, administratively efficient mechanism (leveraging LIHEAP infrastructure) to lower sewer and water cost burdens for low‑income homeowners, while incentivizing participation in free conservation programs. The program’s reach will be constrained by legislative appropriations and the 25% per‑household cap.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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