AUGUSTA — Senator Chip Curry, D-Belfast, introduced Monday a bill to reduce barriers Mainers face in accessing heating assistance.

LD 1966, “An Act To Facilitate Access to Heating Assistance,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee.

“Every winter, Mainers with tighter finances can struggle to make ends meet with energy costs, but this year the energy burden is impacting everyone,” said Sen. Curry. “While Maine was fortunate to receive an additional $55 million from the federal government for heating assistance this year, getting those funds into the hands of the utility company has been slow to roll out.”

LD 1966 would require the Maine State Housing Authority to adopt rules for the administration of its fuel assistance program that require local program operators and administrators — particularly the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP — to accept online applications beginning no later than the 2022-23 winter season.

Local Community Action Programs administer applications for HEAP. The current process of applying for HEAP has created a bottleneck for applicants, with far too many Mainers waiting months to receive the assistance they need and qualify for.

“I’ve heard from numerous constituents about how they need assistance now and are waiting for fuel deliveries because the funding and the paperwork are cumbersome and taking too long,” said Sen. Curry. “Cutting this red tape will help our most vulnerable neighbors as well as the agencies that help them.”

LD 1966 faces further action in committee.