# Illinois HB4781: UTILITY-RECOVERABLE EXPENSES

Illinois HB4781, UTILITY-RECOVERABLE EXPENSES, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by Theresa Mah (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-04-23 (Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4781-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB4781
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: UTILITY-RECOVERABLE EXPENSES
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-02
- Last action: 2026-04-23, Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
- Sponsor: Theresa Mah (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Subjects: public utilities
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning expenses that are recoverable by a public utility, provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility company, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge, any amount expended for political activity or lobbying, any amount expended for contributions to a trade association or a chamber of commerce, and any amount expended by a public utility for director and officer liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance. Provides that, in determining whether the purchase of other types of insurance by a public utility is recoverable, the Commission shall determine whether the specific type of insurance is financially beneficial to the public utility's ratepayers or the public utility's shareholders. Provides that, if the Commission determines that the insurance purchased by the public utility is financially beneficial to its shareholders, then the purchase of the insurance shall not be a recoverable expense. Provides that goodwill or institutional advertising shall not be a recoverable expense by a public utility. Provides that the Commission shall deem as a nonrecoverable expense by a public utility (rather than the Commission shall specifically assess the justness and reasonableness of) any amount expended by a public utility to compensate attorneys or technical experts to prepare and litigate a general rate case filing. Provides that the amount that is deposited into the Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund by a public utility shall not be a recoverable expense by the public utility. Provides that the computation of compensation awarded from the Fund shall take into consideration the market rates paid to persons of comparable training and experience who offer similar services, but may not exceed the comparable market rate for services paid by the public utility as part of its nonrecoverable rate case expense reported to the Commission (rather than as part of its rate case expense). Makes other changes.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Theresa Mah (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Abdelnasser Rashid (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ann M. Williams (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dagmara Avelar (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kelly M. Cassidy (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lilian Jiménez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lindsey LaPointe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michelle Mussman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sonya M. Harper (Democratic), House

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-23: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez (House)
- 2026-04-15: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper (House)
- 2026-04-15: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams (House)
- 2026-04-13: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (House)
- 2026-04-06: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar (House)
- 2026-04-06: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (House)
- 2026-03-27: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-03-19: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (House)
- 2026-03-04: Assigned to Public Utilities Committee (House)
- 2026-02-19: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading (House)
- 2026-02-02: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Theresa Mah (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4781.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
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4781.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-HB4781-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).