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Bill

S 2244

Relates to divestment from the 1033 federal excess property program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jabari Brisport and 10 co-sponsors

Creates a low-income cooling program and bans utility shutoffs during extreme heat to protect vulnerable residents.

REFERRED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · S 2244

Summary — S.2244: An Act promoting resilience against the heat‑related impacts of climate change

Sponsor: Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem (filed Jan 14, 2025; Senate Docket No. 767)
Primary subject: Heat‑resilience policies (cooling assistance, utility protections, study and interagency coordination)
Status (from provided record): Referred to committee (Codes / Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy); subject to appropriation for program funding

Purpose

To reduce heat‑related health risks—particularly for low‑income and medically vulnerable populations—by creating a state low‑income cooling assistance program, preventing cooling‑related utility shutoffs during extreme heat or poor air quality, studying sanitary‑code temperature limits, and convening an interagency task force to coordinate extreme‑heat preparedness.

Key provisions

  1. Low‑Income Cooling Assistance (new Section 24C, Chapter 23B)

    • Establishes a Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) program, subject to appropriation, to help low‑income households with cooling costs and distribute energy‑efficient cooling appliances.
    • Eligibility: households with income ≤ 60% of state median income.
    • Priority to households with one or more “vulnerable persons” (age >65, age <5, or medical conditions that increase heat risk such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes).
    • DHCD to administer primarily through community action agencies and coordinate with councils on aging, FQHCs, housing authorities, and other community partners.
    • DHCD to advertise the program and annually notify LIHEAP participants; to submit an annual report to relevant legislative committees.
    • DHCD may promulgate implementing regulations.

  2. Utility Shutoff Protections (amendment to Section 124F, Chapter 164)

    • Prohibits gas or electric companies from shutting off or maintaining shutoff of residential service used for space cooling when a customer cannot pay because of financial hardship if any of these forecasts apply:
      • National Weather Service forecast for the next 48 hours includes a heat index ≥ 95°F for the service area; OR
      • On a day preceding a holiday or weekend where the forecast includes heat index ≥ 95°F during that holiday/weekend; OR
      • The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection or U.S. EPA forecasts an Air Quality Index (AQI) ≥ 151 in the utility’s service territory.

  3. Sanitary Code Study (Department of Public Health)

    • DPH, consulting with DHCD, must study whether to add maximum temperature requirements for habitable rooms and rooms with plumbing to the state sanitary code.
    • Study must analyze costs and benefits, including public health, environmental justice, housing affordability, and climate resilience.
    • Report due to the legislature by December 31, 2026.

  4. Extreme Heat Task Force (Executive Office of Public Safety & Security)

    • Establishes an interagency and stakeholder task force chaired by the EOPSS secretary (or designee).
    • Membership includes cabinet secretaries or designees (administration & finance; labor; health & human services; energy & environmental affairs; housing), commissioners, education representatives, legislative leaders’ designees, public‑health and academic experts, labor and safety organizations, school and municipal representatives, and environmental justice/community voices (full membership list is in the bill; text provided was truncated).

Who is affected

  • Low‑income households (≤60% SMI), with priority to seniors, young children, and medically vulnerable people.
  • Utilities and their residential customers (restrictions on shutoffs during extreme heat/poor air quality).
  • DHCD, DPH, EOPSS and other state agencies required to implement programs, studies, reporting, and coordination.
  • Community action agencies, health centers, housing authorities, schools, municipalities, and community organizations involved in outreach/administration.

Implementation, timeline, and fiscal notes

  • The cooling assistance program is subject to appropriation; actual benefits depend on funding and regulatory development by DHCD.
  • DPH report on sanitary code amendments due Dec 31, 2026.
  • DHCD must provide annual program reports to legislative committees.
  • Utility shutoff prohibition would amend existing statutory protections; operational details (customer eligibility verification, notification, enforcement) would require agency guidance or regulations.

Likely impacts

  • Increased protections for vulnerable residents during extreme heat events; potential reduction in heat‑related morbidity and mortality.
  • Costs to the Commonwealth (pending appropriation) for direct assistance and program administration.
  • Operational and revenue impacts for utilities from restricted shutoffs, balanced by public health protections during heat and poor air‑quality episodes.
  • Potential downstream effects on housing policy, building standards, and municipal emergency planning depending on task‑force recommendations and DPH findings.

Note: Implementation details (eligibility verification, benefit levels, enforcement mechanisms) are to be defined by implementing agencies and subject to funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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