New York Assembly Bill A07056

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/20/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes the department of public service to develop, implement, administer and operate a temporary middle income home energy assistance program; makes an appropriation therefor.

Summary

This bill authorizes the New York Department of Public Service to create and run a temporary middle-income home energy assistance program. The program would provide one-time supplemental grants to eligible households to help them obtain home heating fuel, broadly defined to include oil, coal, wood, propane, natural gas, electricity, steam, kerosene, and other residential heating fuels. The department would establish eligibility standards and certify qualifying households, but no one could be certified if state funds are unavailable. The bill also appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to support the program and makes the money immediately available for administration and grants. Any assistance paid under the program would not count as income or resources for purposes of other state laws, which is intended to prevent the aid from reducing eligibility for other benefits. The measure is temporary and would take effect immediately, with an automatic expiration and repeal on April 1, 2027.

Impact

The bill would amend the Public Service Law by adding a new section authorizing a temporary state energy assistance program targeted at middle-income households, expanding the Department of Public Service’s role beyond traditional utility oversight into direct grant administration. It would create a new state-funded benefit for home heating costs and require that those payments be disregarded as income or resources under other state programs, potentially affecting eligibility determinations for means-tested benefits. The appropriation would draw from the state general fund and would be limited to the program’s temporary duration.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a consumer relief and affordability proposal aimed at helping households manage heating costs. The overall policy direction is supportive of energy assistance, with no documented opposition or amendments in the provided materials. Because there is no voting history or transcript, there is no clear evidence of broader legislative sentiment beyond the bill’s stated purpose.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be the use of state funds for a new assistance program, the decision to target middle-income households rather than only low-income households, and the temporary nature of the benefit. Another possible issue is administrative discretion: the Department of Public Service would set eligibility standards and operate the program, which could raise questions about implementation, fairness, and whether $1 million is sufficient to meet demand. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.