HB05355 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING FUEL PRICING IN THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Energy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Human Services Committee
Last action: 2026-02-27
Official status: Public Hearing 03/03
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how much funding will be available or what exact new pricing standards will be implemented.

Fuel Pricing Rules for Low-Income Energy Help

This act updates how fuel prices are set for vendors who supply low-income households with energy assistance.

What This Bill Does

Removes old rules about regional pricing standards for deliverable fuel.
Requires the Commissioner of Social Services to create new pricing standards that fairly pay fuel providers while maintaining maximum funding availability for program recipients.
Allows fuel providers to submit payment requests electronically.

Who It Names or Affects

Low-income households receiving energy assistance in Connecticut
Fuel vendors supplying deliverable fuel under the program

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Social Services: The person responsible for managing social services programs, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Deliverable fuel: Fuel that is delivered to homes, such as heating oil or propane.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be available for the program.
It's unclear what specific new pricing standards will be implemented by the Commissioner of Social Services.

Bill History

2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/03
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Human Services

Official Summary Text

To update fuel pricing standards for vendors in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO No. 681 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5355
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 681

Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES

Introduced by:
(HS)

AN ACT CONCERNING FUEL PRICING IN THE LOW INCOME HOME
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 16a -41a of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 2
passage): 3
(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall implement a program 4
to purchase deliverable fuel for low-income households participating in 5
the Connecticut energy assistance program and the state -appropriated 6
fuel assistance program. The commissioner shall ensure an adequate 7
supply of vendors for the program by (1) establishing [county and ] 8
regional pricing standards for deliverable fuel, (2) reimbursing fuel 9
providers based on the price of the fuel publicly posted by the 10
commissioner on the Internet web site of the Department of Social 11
Services on the date of delivery, and (3) allowing a vendor to 12
electronically submit an authorized fuel slip or invoice for payment. 13
Commencing with the energy assistance program period beginning 14
November 1, 2025, the commissioner shall ensure an adequate supply 15

Raised Bill No. 5355

LCO No. 681 2 of 2

of vendors for the program by establishing new pricing standards for 16
deliverable fuel that fairly compensate fuel vendors for costs incurred 17
on fuel purchase and delivery while maintaining the maximum amount 18
of funding to benefit recipients of the program. Not later than August 1, 19
2025, the commissioner shall include such pricing standards in the 20
annual plan for the program required pursuant to subsection (a) of this 21
section. 22
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage 16a-41a(b)

Statement of Purpose:
To update fuel pricing standards for vendors in the Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]