This legislative bill, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, focuses on providing supplemental energy assistance to residents in need. It defines the guidelines and establishment of a grant program under the Department of Energy, designed to help Minnesota residents whose household income is below 60% of the state median. Key features of the bill include:

1. Establishment of a Grant Program: A program is set up to distribute grants to eligible applicants, with the application and award process governed by developed policies and procedures.

2. Eligibility: A resident must have a household income less than 60% of the state median to qualify for a grant.

3. Priority and Utilization of Funds: The program prioritizes expanding the number of households receiving energy assistance rather than increasing the grant amount to those already assisted under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Remaining funds from LIHEAP should be used before utilizing new funds for similar grants.

4. Types of Grants: Grants can be awarded for:

   • Crisis situations if the household did not receive the maximum crisis grant available from federal funds.
   • Primary heat and crisis grants for households that haven't received any LIHEAP support.
   • Emergency heating system repair or replacement.
   • Outreach efforts to increase program accessibility.

5. Reporting Requirements: Starting from the end of 2026, an annual report is required until 2031 detailing various statistics about the grants including number of households served and average benefits provided.

6. Funding: A designated amount of money is set aside in the fiscal year 2026 for this program, from the general state fund, with provisions on how it can be used, including administrative and outreach expenses.

In simple terms, this bill sets up a state-funded program to help low-income Minnesota households with energy costs, focusing on expanding coverage and efficient use of existing federal funds, with stipulations for administrative costs and extensive reporting to monitor and evaluate the program's impact.