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SB 2687

Certificate of Need; authorize additional beds in a community living program for disabled adults in Madison County.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Walter Michel

Creates the Home Utility Rebate Program to provide $500 million in electricity bill rebates for households with incomes 100%–500% of federal poverty guidelines, for FY 2026–27.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 2687

Summary — SB 2687 (Home Utility Relief Act)

Status: Died in committee
Introduced: March 13, 2025 (filed by Sen. Sally J. Turner)
Subject: Public Health and Welfare
Companion bill: HB 4980

Purpose / intent

SB 2687 would have created a temporary state program to provide direct utility rebates to households that use electricity and whose incomes fall between 100% and 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. The stated intent was to deliver timely bill relief to a broad range of households and to provide a dedicated funding mechanism for that relief.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the "Home Utility Rebate Program" in the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The Department must implement the program "as soon as practicable."
  • Eligibility: households that use electricity and have a median household income between 100% and 500% of the poverty guidelines published by HHS (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)). DCEO may set additional participation qualifications by rule, including criteria used under the Energy Assistance Act.
  • Funding: creates the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund (a special fund in the State treasury). The State Comptroller is directed and the State Treasurer to transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund into that Fund to provide rebates for State fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
  • Residual funds: any money remaining two months after the conclusion of payments to households in a fiscal year may be awarded to qualifying first‑time small business owners as determined by DCEO.
  • Rulemaking: requires DCEO to adopt emergency rules under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the program quickly. The emergency rulemaking authority added by the bill would be repealed three years after the bill’s effective date.
  • Effective date: upon becoming law. All interest earned on Fund balances would remain in the Fund and expenditures are limited to the rebate program.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: electricity-using households with incomes between 100% and 500% of federal poverty guidelines (a broader bracket than many low-income energy assistance programs).
  • Administrative: DCEO (program design and eligibility), Comptroller and Treasurer (fund transfer and management), and participating utilities/contractors if the Department uses partners for payments or verification.
  • Secondary beneficiaries: qualifying first‑time small business owners if leftover funds are awarded.

Potential impact

  • One-time appropriation of $500 million intended to provide targeted utility bill relief over two fiscal years (SFY 2026–2027).
  • Broad income eligibility could extend assistance to middle-income households not eligible for traditional low-income assistance programs.
  • Quick implementation was enabled by emergency rule authority; program details (rebate amounts, delivery mechanism) would depend on DCEO rulemaking.

Legislative history

  • Filed March 13, 2025; referred to committee(s). The bill ultimately did not advance and is recorded as "Died In Committee." Several senators were listed as co‑sponsors (see sponsors list).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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