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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 996
H.P. 643 House of Representatives, March 11, 2025
An Act to Create the Weatherization Plus Program and
Weatherization Plus Fund
Reference to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MALON of Biddeford.
Cosponsored by Representative: GOLEK of Harpswell.
Page 1 - 132LR1547(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA c. 201, sub-c. 15 is enacted to read:
3SUBCHAPTER 15
4WEATHERIZATION PLUS PROGRAM
5§4994-C. Weatherization Plus Program
61. Program established. The Weatherization Plus Program, referred to in this
7 subchapter as "the program," is established within the Maine State Housing Authority, for
8 the purposes described in subsection 2. The program must be operated in conjunction with
9 other programs of the authority.
102. Purposes of program. The purposes of the program are to:
11 A. Help eligible low-income households implement energy conservation measures
12 through grants and the funding of weatherization readiness or weatherization projects.
13 For the purposes of this subchapter, "weatherization readiness" means the process to
14 protect a building from the outside weather elements and improve its energy efficiency;
15 B. Reduce the number of deferrals from the Weatherization Assistance for Low-income
16 Persons Program administered through the United States Department of Energy and
17 referenced in section 4741, subsection 15; and
18 C. Maximize the use of federal funding available for the purposes in paragraphs A and
19 B.
203. Program requirements. The Maine State Housing Authority shall establish
21 program requirements, including, but not limited to, requiring that an applicant for the
22 program:
23 A. Meet the same household income eligibility requirements applicable to the
24 Weatherization Assistance for Low-income Persons Program administered through the
25 United States Department of Energy and implemented pursuant to section 4741,
26 subsection 15;
27 B. Demonstrate the dwelling for which the funds are to be applied is a single-family
28 house or manufactured housing occupied by the applicant or another eligible
29 low-income household; and
30 C. For weatherization readiness projects, provide a substantiated expectation of the
31 dwelling being weatherized following completion of the weatherization readiness
32 project.
33 An approved applicant may be awarded a grant of up to $20,000.
34§4994-D. Weatherization Plus Fund
35 The Weatherization Plus Fund, referred to in this subchapter as "the fund," is
36 established under the jurisdiction and control of the Maine State Housing Authority for the
37 purpose of providing funds for the program.
381. Sources of fund. Sources of the fund include:
Page 2 - 132LR1547(01)
1 A. All money appropriated for inclusion in the fund;
2 B. Subject to any pledge, contract or other obligation, any money that the Maine State
3 Housing Authority receives in repayment of advances from the fund;
4 C. Subject to any pledge, contract or other obligation, all interest, dividends and
5 pecuniary gains from investment of money of the fund; and
6 D. Any other money available to and directed by the Maine State Housing Authority
7 to be paid into the fund.
82. Revolving fund. The fund is a nonlapsing, revolving fund. The Maine State
9 Housing Authority shall continuously apply all money in the fund to carry out the purposes
10 of this subchapter.
11Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
12 allocations are made.
13HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE
14Weatherization Plus Fund N505
15 Initiative: Provides one-time funds for grants to eligible low-income households for
16 weatherization readiness and weatherization projects pursuant to the Maine Revised
17 Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 201, subchapter 15.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $2,000,000 $0
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $2,000,000 $0
18SUMMARY
19 This bill establishes the Weatherization Plus Program and Weatherization Plus Fund
20 to assist eligible low-income households in implementing energy conservation measures in
21 their homes.
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