The Illinois House of Representatives sent several bills to the Illinois Senate Wednesday, including measures codifying a utility discount program for low-income residents and allowing for families to petition for homicide cold cases in Cook County to be reopened. 

House Bill 4456 — sponsored by Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake) — would codify a program operated by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) offering low-income discount rates. Discounts range from five to 84 percent of a person’s bill, with the individual discount determined by a person’s income level.

The measure also makes changes to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a program under the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that offers financial assistance to low-income households struggling to pay their electric or gas bills. HB 4456 raises the income threshold for the program from 150 percent of the federal poverty limit to 300 percent.

The proposal would also prevent utilities from raising surcharges to make up for the programs, freezing them at $0.80 for companies required to implement the program. It also requires the use of all federal funds available before a utility could seek a rate increase.

Read more: House committee advances bill codifying gas, electric discounts for low-income households

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said while he agreed with some provisions of the measure, he was concerned the General Assembly “rubber stamping” the ICC’s program could lead to participation increasing beyond what utilities are able to support. He said this could lead to another increase for ratepayers.

Faver Dias said that ratepayers already bear the cost when people default on their utility bills. She said this program ensures that people can afford to pay their bills and that ideally rates would remain consistent.

The measure was approved 74-37.

The House also approved House Bill 3632, sponsored by Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). The measure creates the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act, which allows families in Cook County to petition for the re-investigation of an unsolved homicide case.

That investigation must include an analysis of any investigative steps that may have been missed, an assessment of whether witnesses should be re-interviewed, a re-analysis of physical evidence and a modernization of the case file to bring it to current investigative standards.

That review must be conducted by someone who was not involved in the initial investigation. Municipalities with populations under 25,000 are exempt from that provision, which Buckner said is to address concerns around staffing.

Cases dating back to 1970 would be applicable under the measure.

HB 3632 was approved 76-35.

House Bill 5198 was also approved. The measure amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act, which was signed in 2003 to expand affordable housing in Illinois.

Under the law, municipalities must develop an affordable housing plan, which must be submitted to the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Currently, municipalities with more than 10 percent of their housing stock deemed affordable are exempt.

HB 5198 raises that threshold to 25 percent and exempts municipalities with populations below 2,000.

The measure also makes changes to the appeal process for housing developments seeking to be designated affordable, aligning Illinois law with that of other states.

The measure passed 74-37, with one voting present.

Representatives also approved House Bill 4372, which mandates Latin American history be taught in Illinois public schools. Bill sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) said the measure was brought to her by two Illinois students.

She said the curriculum has already been created and that the measure shouldn’t impose a large burden on school districts to comply with. That received skepticism from House Republicans, who protested the addition of another mandate on Illinois’ public schools.

The measure passed 74-34.

House Bill 3063 was also approved 94-8. The measure would name a stretch of South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago that begins at 95th Street and ends at The Obama Presidential Center as the “Gateway to the Obama Center.”

The House also approved House Bill 5492 on partisan lines. The measure requires that when a doctor has prescribed a year's supply of hormone replacement therapy — which can be used to treat menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome and some cancers — that an insurance company must cover the full prescriptions.

Bill sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville) said there are cases where insurance companies do not cover the full year, requiring individuals to return to the pharmacy numerous times when their prescription is for the full year. She said these trips are unnecessary.

“The doctor has prescribed the year; the pharmacist can dispense for the year,” Stuart said. “We just say that the insurance company should have to cover the cost for that entire year if the patient chooses to get it all at one time.”

Representatives also unanimously approved House Bill 4984 — sponsored by Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine) — which prohibits the practice of selling “speculative tickets.” Syed said there have been cases where someone sells a ticket for a concert or sporting event that they don’t yet possess.

She said this can cause issues if people purchase plane tickets or hotel rooms, but the ticket is not actually acquired.

The House passed 30 bills in total. The full list can be found here.