# Illinois HB4456: LOW-INCOME UTILITY RATES Illinois HB4456, LOW-INCOME UTILITY RATES, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-07-09 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0540) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4456-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Illinois HB4456 - State: Illinois - Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) - Title: LOW-INCOME UTILITY RATES - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-15 - Last action: 2026-07-09, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0540 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 11 - Subjects: public utilities, assignments, energy and public utilities - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (148 yes, 72 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning nondiscrimination, provides that the Commission is authorized to approve a low-income discount rate for residential electric and natural gas customers that applies to the entirety of a qualifying customer's bill, including, but not limited to, a qualifying customer's delivery service charges and energy supply charges. Provides that an electric or natural gas utility may fund low-income discount rates through a surcharge on customers' electric and natural gas bills. Provides that the changes to the Act apply retroactively on and after January 1, 2023. Amends the Energy Assistance Act. In provisions concerning eligibility under the Act, provides that, in setting the annual eligibility level for the use of State funds from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall consider the amount of available funding and may not set a limit higher than 300% of the federal nonfarm poverty level. In provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, provides that the yearly administrative expenses of the Fund may not exceed 15% (rather than 13%) of the amount collected during that year, except when unspent funds from the Fund are reallocated from a previous year. Provides that any unspent balance of the 15% administrative allowance may be utilized for administrative expenses in the year they are reallocated. Provides that, of the 15% administrative allowance, no less than 9% (rather than 8%) shall be provided to Local Administrative Agencies for administrative expenses. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Base Energy Assistance Charge shall be $0.80 per month for each utility that is required by the Illinois Commerce Commission to implement a low-income discount rate and shall be $0.40 per month for each utility that is not required to implement a low-income discount rate and that contributes to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund. Makes other changes. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More energy help for low-income households: benefit, medium. The law lets Illinois approve electric and gas bill discounts for qualifying residential customers of utilities serving more than 100,000 customers. To qualify, a customer must meet energy assistance rules and have household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Discounts can cover… - Fixed utility charges fund energy help: mixed, low. Utilities can use fixed per-customer charges to help pay for low-income discounts. These charges may differ by customer class, but cannot be based on energy use, demand, or deliveries. Beginning January 1, 2027, the monthly base Energy Assistance Charge is $0.80 for utilities required to offer low-… - More funding for local energy agencies: mixed, low. The law raises the annual cap for Fund administrative costs from 13% to 15% of collections. At least 9% of that administrative allowance must go to Local Administrative Agencies, up from 8%. Reallocated unused allowance can also pay administrative costs. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Adriane L. Johnson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Barbara Hernandez (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dagmara Avelar (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lakesia Collins (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Laura Ellman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Laura Faver Dias (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mary Edly-Allen (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Maura Hirschauer (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nabeela Syed (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sara Feigenholtz (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Willie Preston (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-19 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 42 | 17 | | | 2026-05-07 | Senate | Do Pass Energy and Public Utilities; | pass | 8 | 5 | | | 2026-04-15 | House | Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed | pass | 74 | 37 | | | 2026-04-14 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Public Utilities Committee; | pass | 13 | 6 | | | 2026-03-18 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee; | pass | 11 | 7 | | ## Actions (47) - 2026-07-09: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0540 (House) - 2026-07-09: Effective Date July 9, 2026 (House) - 2026-07-09: Governor Approved (House) - 2026-06-18: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2026-05-19: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Willie Preston (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Passed Both Houses (House) - 2026-05-19: Third Reading - Passed; 042-017-000 (Senate) - 2026-05-14: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-05-14: Second Reading (Senate) - 2026-05-07: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 12, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-05-07: Do Pass Energy and Public Utilities; 008-005-000 (Senate) - 2026-05-04: Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Adriane L. Johnson (Senate) - 2026-04-29: Assigned to Energy and Public Utilities (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2026-04-16: First Reading (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Arrive in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-15: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez (House) - 2026-04-15: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer (House) - 2026-04-15: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled (House) - 2026-04-15: Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed 074-037-000 (House) - 2026-04-15: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Standard Debate (House) - 2026-04-15: Chair Rules Standard Debate (House) - 2026-04-15: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2026-04-15: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted (House) - 2026-04-14: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Public Utilities Committee; 013-006-000 (House) - 2026-04-14: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Public Utilities Committee (House) - 2026-04-13: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2026-04-13: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias (House) - 2026-04-10: Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2026-04-10: Second Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2026-03-20: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Public Utilities Committee (House) - 2026-03-19: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2026-03-19: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias (House) - 2026-03-19: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2026-03-18: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed (House) - 2026-03-18: Do Pass / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee; 011-007-000 (House) - 2026-03-13: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar (House) - 2026-02-11: Assigned to Public Utilities Committee (House) - 2026-01-20: Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2026-01-20: First Reading (House) - 2026-01-15: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456enr.pdf) - House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456ham001.pdf) - House Amendment 2: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456ham002.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456.pdf) ## Related bills - HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house) - SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate) - HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee) - HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee) - SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate) - SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456enr.pdf) - [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456ham001.pdf) - [House Amendment 2 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456ham002.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4456.pdf) ## Related - [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026) - [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026) - [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026) - [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026) - [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026) - [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026) - [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills) - [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4456-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).