Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4147

LRB104 15720 KTG 28903 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4147

Introduced 10/15/2025, by Rep. Regan Deering

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
5 ILCS 100/5-45.70 new
30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new

Creates the Home Utility Relief Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create, as soon as practicable, a Home Utility Rebate Program to provide rebates to households that use electricity and that have a median household income between 100% and 500% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that eligible households shall receive the rebates as soon as practicable after implementation of the program. Requires the Department to, by rule, establish qualifications for program participation which may include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements. Provides that rebates provided under the program shall be funded through appropriations made from the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund created under the Act. Requires the State Comptroller to direct and the State Treasurer to transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households for State fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Provides that any funds left over at the end of the second month following the conclusion of payments to households in a fiscal year may be awarded to certain qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by the Department. Requires the Department to adopt emergency rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the program. Amends the State Finance Act to include the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund as a special fund. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Home Utility Relief Act.

Section 5. Home Utility Rebate Program.

(a) As soon as practicable, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Home Utility Rebate Program to provide rebates to households that use electricity and that have a median household income between 100% and 500% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). Eligible households shall receive the rebates as soon as practicable after implementation of the program. The Department shall, by rule, establish qualifications for program participation, which may include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements.

(b) Rebates provided under the program shall be funded through appropriations made from the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund created under Section 10. The State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households for State fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Any funds left over at the end of the second month following the conclusion of payments to households in a fiscal year may be awarded to certain qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by the Department.

(c) The Department shall adopt emergency rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the Home Utility Rebate Program.

Section 10. Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund. The Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of any moneys deposited into the Fund as provided under subsection (b) of Section 5. Moneys in the Fund shall be expended for the Home Utility Rebate Program as provided under Section 5 and for no other purpose. All interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund.

Section 15. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is amended by adding Section 5-45.70 as follows:

(5 ILCS 100/5-45.70 new)

Sec. 5-45.70. Emergency rulemaking; Home Utility Rebate Program. To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Home Utility Rebate Program authorized under the Home Utility Relief Act, emergency rules implementing the Home Utility Rebate Program may be adopted in accordance with Section 5-45 by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

This Section is repealed 3 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Section 20. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1038 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)

Sec. 5.1038. The Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.