Kendall County Times

With the cost of almost everything including fuel and natural gas on the rise, state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) wants to make sure more families have access to assistance with paying their heating bills. 

Rezin introduced legislation on Feb. 7 that would allow more families to have access to the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

"Like most Illinoisans, I have been concerned with the rising rate for natural gas that we have seen throughout the state," Rezin wrote in a Feb. 8 tweet. "This legislation is the first step in ensuring that Illinois families are able to heat their homes in an affordable fashion."

Currently, families of four that make less than $55,500 qualify for benefits through the program. According to the Shaw Local News Network, the bill would expand the threshold to families of four with a yearly income of up to $110,000. First-time small business owners would also have the chance to apply for these benefits. 

“Until now, our state’s middle class has had little to no options for relief when it comes to increasing heating bills,” Rezin said in a release, the Shaw Local News Network reported. 

Under the proposed bill, the program would be a part of a $500 million Home Heating Rebate Relief Fund and would be given out on a first-come first-served basis, the Shaw Local News Network reported. 

"This is an issue that affects all of us and appears to be only getting worse. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market prices of gas rose by more than 24% this December. This, plus other factors, has caused experts to project a 30% increase in winter heating prices for nearly half of all U.S. households,” Rezin said in the release.

If passed by the state legislature and signed into law, the bill, known as Senate Bill 4068, would go into effect immediately.

A summary of the legislation on LegiScan noted that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity would be responsible for creating the Home Heating Rebate Program.

The state previously launched a low-income water assistance program back in December, Block Club Chicago reported.