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Presentation, discussion, and possible action on release of the draft 2026 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program State Plan for public comment
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USHHS) requires that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the Department) submit a State Plan every year in order to receive its allotment of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds;
WHEREAS, the Department has prepared a draft 2026 LIHEAP State Plan (the Plan); and
WHEREAS, USHHS requires that a draft Plan be released for public comment and the State requires four public hearings prior to the submission of the Plan to USHHS;
NOW, therefore, it is hereby
RESOLVED, that the draft Plan, in the form presented to this meeting, is hereby approved to be released for public comment and posted on the Department’s website and published in the Texas Register;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that if USHHS releases different guidance after Board approval, the Board authorizes staff to make needed conforming changes and non-substantive changes to the Plan, and to change the public hearing dates and the comment period; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final Plan with consideration of final grant guidance, public comment and technical corrections made by staff, along with award recommendations for subrecipients, will be presented to the Board no later than July 2025.
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BACKGROUND
USHHS requires that the State of Texas submit a LIHEAP State Plan each year on or before September 1 in order to receive its allotment of LIHEAP funds. In response to this requirement, the Department has prepared a draft 2026 LIHEAP State Plan. Subrecipients had two previous opportunities to provide input into the drafting of this Plan. The first opportunity included a 17-day timeframe in December 2024 to provide comments on what they wanted changed from the 2025 LIHEAP State Plan, and the second opportunity included an 18-day period in March 2025 to comment on the draft 2026 Plan before presenting it to the Board at this meeting.
The draft Plan, upon approval by the Board, will be posted on the Department’s website, published in the Texas Register, released for public comment and public hearings will be held.
An announcement of the availability of the draft Plan and details regarding the timeframe to accept comments from the public and the public hearing will be posted on the Department’s website upon Board approval and published in the Texas Register on April 25, 2025. The period to accept comments from the public regarding the Plan will be open from April 25, 2025, through May 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Central time. Written comments concerning the Plan may be submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Community Affairs Division-Gavin Reid, P.O. Box 13941, Austin, TX 78711-3941, or by email to gavin.reid@tdhca.texas.gov. Comments are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Central time on May 21, 2025.
The Department will also conduct four public hearings throughout the state. Meeting dates, times and locations are:
• Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 5:30 pm - 6:00 p.m. at Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 221 East 11th Street, 1st Floor, Austin, TX 78701.
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at BakerRipley, First Floor Education Center, 3838 Aberdeen Way, Houston, TX 77025.
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Northside Community Center, 1100 NW 18th Street, Room R44133, Fort Worth, TX 76164.
• Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at West Texas Opportunities, 1415 East 2nd Street, Odessa, TX 79761.
Upon completion of the public comment period and public hearings, staff will modify the Plan, if appropriate, based on public comment. Staff will also include any changes required by federal guidance and necessary technical corrections made by staff. Staff anticipates presenting the revised Plan, along with recommendations for subrecipient awards, to the Board for review and final approval no later than July.
LIHEAP funds, as reflected in the Plan, are utilized in the following three ways:
• The Department allocates at least 75% of the LIHEAP funds to the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides utility assistance to eligible households, including crisis assistance and services to reduce home energy needs.
• The Department allocates up to 15% of the LIHEAP funds to the Weatherization Assistance Program. There is generally greater flexibility with LIHEAP weatherization funds than U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) weatherization funds, so continuing to allocate some portion of these funds for this activity allows households to receive more comprehensive assistance than if they were to be served solely by DOE WAP funds.
• The Department allocates 10% of LIHEAP funds for Department and subrecipient planning and administrative costs.
In review of the Plan, attached, it should be noted that the Plan follows a template and series of required responses pre-determined by USHHS with character limitations and specific instructions.
The full text of the draft 2026 LIHEAP State Plan may be viewed at the Department’s website: <https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/tdhca-public-comment-center>. The public may also receive a copy of the draft 2026 LIHEAP State Plan by contacting Gavin Reid at gavin.reid@tdhca.texas.gov.