Dupage Policy Journal

Suzy Glowiak Hilton introduced SB1275 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 28, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility company, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge: (1) any amount expended for contributions or gifts to political candidates, political parties, political or legislative committees, or any committee or organization working to influence referendum petitions or elections or contributions to a trade association or a chamber of commerce; or (2) any amount expended by a public utility company for director and officer liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance. Provides that, in determining whether other types of insurance purchased by the public utility are recoverable, the Commission shall consider whether the insurance provides a financial benefit to ratepayers of the public utility or the public utility's shareholders. Provides that, if the Commission determines the insurance purchased by the public utility provides a financial benefit to the public utility's shareholders, then the amount expended shall not be a recoverable expense. In provisions concerning advertising, provides that goodwill or institutional advertising shall not be a recoverable expense. Provides that any amount expended by a public utility to compensate attorneys or technical experts to prepare and litigate a general rate case filing is a nonrecoverable expense. Provides that, in any general rate increase requested by any gas, electric, water, or sewer utility company under the provisions of the Act, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing for members of the public to provide input on the requested rate increase. Provides that a public hearing shall be held in the service territory of the utility that is requesting the general rate increase, at a time and location to be determined by the Commission."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Public Utilities Act to prohibit the Illinois Commerce Commission from considering certain expenses as recoverable for public utility companies when determining rates or charges. These non-recoverable expenses include those associated with political contributions, director and officer liability insurance, goodwill or institutional advertising, and compensation for legal and technical experts preparing rate case filings. Additionally, the bill mandates at least one public hearing in the service territory for any general rate increase requested by a utility company to allow public input. The effective date of the amendments is not specified in the bill.

Suzy Glowiak Hilton has proposed another two bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Hilton graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1983 with a BA.

Suzy Glowiak Hilton is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 23rd Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Diane Pappas in 2023.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB1275	01/28/2025	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider as an expense of any public utility company, for the purpose of determining any rate or charge: (1) any amount expended for contributions or gifts to political candidates, political parties, political or legislative committees, or any committee or organization working to influence referendum petitions or elections or contributions to a trade association or a chamber of commerce; or (2) any amount expended by a public utility company for director and officer liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance. Provides that, in determining whether other types of insurance purchased by the public utility are recoverable, the Commission shall consider whether the insurance provides a financial benefit to ratepayers of the public utility or the public utility's shareholders. Provides that, if the Commission determines the insurance purchased by the public utility provides a financial benefit to the public utility's shareholders, then the amount expended shall not be a recoverable expense. In provisions concerning advertising, provides that goodwill or institutional advertising shall not be a recoverable expense. Provides that any amount expended by a public utility to compensate attorneys or technical experts to prepare and litigate a general rate case filing is a nonrecoverable expense. Provides that, in any general rate increase requested by any gas, electric, water, or sewer utility company under the provisions of the Act, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing for members of the public to provide input on the requested rate increase. Provides that a public hearing shall be held in the service territory of the utility that is requesting the general rate increase, at a time and location to be determined by the Commission.
SB1273	01/28/2025	Amends the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Act. Adds a licensed occupational therapist and a licensed occupational therapy assistant to the list of health care professionals that may receive a grant of $15,000 or less per year from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, subject to appropriation, for a maximum of 4 years.
SB1274	01/28/2025	Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Provides that a sexual assault services voucher may be used to seek payment for, among other things, taxi services and car-sharing programs. Defines "car-sharing program".