Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services advances bill to set new federal funding floor for weatherization resources
LANSING, Mich. (Nov. 4, 2025) — Today, the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), committee chair, to direct more funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help save energy long-term and make lasting improvements to Michigan housing. In response to today’s passage, Sen. Irwin released the following statement:
“Everyone in Michigan knows how hard it is to keep your home at a reasonable temperature when you have unsealed cracks or an antique furnace. By setting a minimum investment in home weatherization to save energy and make homes more livable, Senate Bill 562 would ensure that Michigan spends our federal heating assistance money wisely.”
LIHEAP is a lifesaving federally funded program that assists low-income and very low-income households with energy bills. In 2024, Michigan used LIHEAP funds to help more than 564,000 households through the Home Heating Credit, the State Emergency Relief program, the Michigan Energy Assistance Program, and the Weatherization Assistance Program. While current Michigan law caps LIHEAP weatherization funding at 15%, Senate Bill 562 would instead set a minimum of 12.5% of LIHEAP funding for weatherization, such as sealing air leaks, adding insulation, installing programmable thermostats, and fixing outmoded furnaces.
This legislation now heads to the full Senate floor for consideration.
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