Sanalitro supports HB5524 mandating transparency in utility bill charges; House votes 117-0

Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R-48th) cast a Yes vote for HB5524, which requires utility bill charge disclosures, during the 104th General Assembly on May 31, 2026, according to the Illinois House. The bill passed unanimously, 117-0.

The text of the legislation summarizes the measure as: "UTILITY CHARGE TRANSPARENCY."

The following summarizes and clarifies provisions from the original history and text of the bill.

Specifically, the bill tasks the Illinois Commerce Commission, starting Jan. 1, 2027, with managing a public website to display all non-delivery or supply electric utility bill charges required by law or commission approval. The site must publish for state-remitted charges: legal authorities, total collected annually, state usage details, and a breakdown of expenditures. For charges retained by utilities, it must include the legal authority, charge purposes, sums collected annually, complete spending details, and how spending aligns with their stated purposes.

The formal action shown for HB5524 was 'Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 House Concurs.'

A Republican, Sanalitro began serving the 48th House District in 2023, following former state Rep. Terra Costa Howard.

Illinois legislation follows a multi-stage legislative process—starting with introduction, passing through committees, floor debates, votes in both chambers, and subsequently moving to the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly meets biennially, introducing thousands of bills each session, although only a limited number make it through every stage to become law.