Illinois legislation · 104th General Assembly
Illinois HB4456: LOW-INCOME UTILITY RATES
Status: Signed into law, July 9, 2026
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 Ener
What the bill says
A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4456Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Laura Faver DiasSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: ILCS 5/9-241from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241305 ILCS 20/6from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406305 ILCS 20/13 220 ILCS 5/9-241 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241 305 ILCS 20/6 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406 305 ILCS 20/13 ILCS 5/9-241 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241 ILCS 20/6 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406 ILCS 20/13 Amends the Public Utilities Act…
From the introduced text, January 15, 2026:
A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4456Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Laura Faver DiasSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: ILCS 5/9-241from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241305 ILCS 20/6from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406305 ILCS 20/13 220 ILCS 5/9-241 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241 305 ILCS 20/6 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406 305 ILCS 20/13 ILCS 5/9-241 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241 ILCS 20/6 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406 ILCS 20/13 Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerningnondiscrimination, provides that the Commission is authorized to approve alow-income discount rate for residential electric and natural gascustomers that applies to the entirety of a qualifying customer's bill,including, but not limited to, a qualifying customer's delivery servicecharges and energy supply charges. Provides that an electric or naturalgas utility may fund low-income discount rates through a surcharge oncustomers' electric and natural gas bills. Provides that the changes tothe Act apply retroactively on and after January 1, 2023. Amends the EnergyAssistance Act. In provisions concerning eligibility under the Act,provides that, in setting the annual eligibility level for the use of Statefunds from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, theDepartment of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall consider the amountof available funding and may not set a limit higher than 300% of thefederal nonfarm poverty level. In provisions concerning the SupplementalLow-Income Energy …
Sponsors
- Laura Faver Dias (D, 62) · primary sponsor
- Dagmara Avelar (D, 85)
- Nabeela Syed (D, 51)
- Barbara Hernandez (D, 50)
- Maura Hirschauer (D, 49)
- Adriane Johnson (D, 30) · primary sponsor
- Willie Preston (D, 16)
- Lakesia Collins (D, 5)
- Mary Edly-Allen (D, 31)
- Laura Ellman (D, 21)
- Sara Feigenholtz (D, 6)
Latest actions
- : Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0540
- : Effective Date July 9, 2026
- : Governor Approved
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman
- : Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
- : Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
- : Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins
- : Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Willie Preston
- : Passed Both Houses
Votes
- Third Reading - Passed (May 19, 2026): 42 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Do Pass Energy and Public Utilities (May 7, 2026): 8 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed (April 15, 2026): 74 yea, 37 nay, passed
- House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Public Utilities Committee (April 14, 2026): 13 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Do Pass / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee (March 18, 2026): 11 yea, 7 nay, passed
Subjects: ILCS 220 - Utilities, ILCS 305 - Public Aid
Common questions
- What is HB4456?
- HB4456 is a bill in the Illinois Legislature (104th General Assembly): LOW-INCOME UTILITY RATES.
- What does HB4456 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4456Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Laura Faver DiasSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: ILCS 5/9-241from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241305 ILCS 20/6from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406305 ILCS 20/13 220 ILCS 5/9-241 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241 305 ILCS 20/6 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406 305 ILCS 20/13 ILCS 5/9-241 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-241 ILCS 20/6 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1406 ILCS 20/13 Amends the Public Utilities Act…
- What is the status of HB4456?
- Signed into law as of July 9, 2026. Latest action: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0540 (July 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB4456?
- Laura Faver Dias (D, 62), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB4456?
- On the Illinois Legislature website: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4456&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114
Source: official Illinois record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.