Terra Costa Howard, Illinois State Representative for 42nd District | Illinois General Assembly
Terra Costa Howard, Illinois State Representative for 42nd District | Illinois General Assembly
In the House, 75 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while 38 Republicans opposed it.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, 38 Democrats and 18 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.
Howard introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Jan. 22, 2025 during the 104th session.
The legislation, known as HB1576, was passed on May 31, 2025 during the general assembly session 104.
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends various sections of the Court of Claims Act, altering terms and appointment processes for judges, stipulating that judges hold office for six years. It mandates judges receive an annual salary set by the Compensation Review Board and allows court sessions to be held remotely to expedite business. The bill provides the court authority to establish rules, appoint commissioners, issue subpoenas, and adopt administrative rules for electronic operations. It dictates a filing fee structure based on the claim amount and addresses court costs for frivolous lawsuits by prisoners. The bill sets specific time limitations for filing various types of claims, with most contract-related claims having a five-year limit, while others have different time frames depending on the nature of the claim. These limitations are binding and jurisdictional, though extensions can be granted if legally or administratively authorized.
The bill was sponsored only by Sen. Michael W. Halpin (Democrat-36th District).
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.
Howard graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993 with a BA and again in 1996 from DePaul University with a JD.
Howard, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 to represent the state's 42nd House District, replacing previous state representative Amy L. Grant.
Lawmakers listed as "Not Voting" were present for the vote but did not cast a vote. Those marked as having an "Excused Absence" were not present and formally provided a reason for their absence, which was accepted.
While the final vote determined the bill’s passage, lawmakers in both chambers held an additional vote related to a concurrence. This earlier vote is included below for context.
| Legislator | Party | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adriane Johnson | Democrat | 30th District | Yea |
| Andrew S. Chesney | Republican | 45th District | Yea |
| Bill Cunningham | Democrat | 18th District | Yea |
| Celina Villanueva | Democrat | 12th District | Yea |
| Chapin Rose | Republican | 51st District | Yea |
| Chris Balkema | Republican | 53rd District | Yea |
| Christopher Belt | Democrat | 57th District | Yea |
| Craig Wilcox | Republican | 32nd District | Not vote |
| Cristina Castro | Democrat | 22nd District | Yea |
| Dale Fowler | Republican | 59th District | Yea |
| Darby A. Hills | Republican | 26th District | Yea |
| Dave Syverson | Republican | 35th District | Yea |
| David Koehler | Democrat | 46th District | Yea |
| Donald P. DeWitte | Republican | 33rd District | Yea |
| Doris Turner | Democrat | 48th District | Yea |
| Elgie R. Sims, Jr. | Democrat | 17th District | Yea |
| Emil Jones, III | Democrat | 14th District | Yea |
| Erica Harriss | Republican | 56th District | Yea |
| Graciela Guzmán | Democrat | 20th District | Yea |
| Jason Plummer | Republican | 55th District | Yea |
| Javier L. Cervantes | Democrat | 1st District | Yea |
| Jil Tracy | Republican | 50th District | Yea |
| John F. Curran | Republican | 41st District | Yea |
| Julie A. Morrison | Democrat | 29th District | Yea |
| Karina Villa | Democrat | 25th District | Yea |
| Kimberly A. Lightford | Democrat | 4th District | Not vote |
| Lakesia Collins | Democrat | 5th District | Yea |
| Laura Ellman | Democrat | 21st District | Yea |
| Laura Fine | Democrat | 9th District | Yea |
| Laura M. Murphy | Democrat | 28th District | Yea |
| Li Arellano, Jr. | Republican | 37th District | Yea |
| Linda Holmes | Democrat | 42nd District | Yea |
| Mark L. Walker | Democrat | 27th District | Yea |
| Mary Edly-Allen | Democrat | 31st District | Yea |
| Mattie Hunter | Democrat | 3rd District | Yea |
| Meg Loughran Cappel | Democrat | 49th District | Not vote |
| Michael E. Hastings | Democrat | 19th District | Yea |
| Michael W. Halpin | Democrat | 36th District | Yea |
| Mike Porfirio | Democrat | 11th District | Yea |
| Mike Simmons | Democrat | 7th District | Yea |
| Mr. President | Democrat | 39th District | Yea |
| Napoleon Harris, III | Democrat | 15th District | Yea |
| Neil Anderson | Republican | 47th District | Yea |
| Omar Aquino | Democrat | 2nd District | Yea |
| Patrick J. Joyce | Democrat | 40th District | Yea |
| Paul Faraci | Democrat | 52nd District | Yea |
| Rachel Ventura | Democrat | 43rd District | Yea |
| Ram Villivalam | Democrat | 8th District | Yea |
| Robert F. Martwick | Democrat | 10th District | Yea |
| Robert Peters | Democrat | 13th District | Yea |
| Sally J. Turner | Republican | 44th District | Yea |
| Sara Feigenholtz | Democrat | 6th District | Yea |
| Seth Lewis | Republican | 24th District | Yea |
| Steve McClure | Republican | 54th District | Yea |
| Steve Stadelman | Democrat | 34th District | Yea |
| Sue Rezin | Republican | 38th District | Yea |
| Suzy Glowiak Hilton | Democrat | 23rd District | Yea |
| Terri Bryant | Republican | 58th District | Yea |
| Willie Preston | Democrat | 16th District | Yea |
| Legislator | Party | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarón M. Ortíz | Democrat | 1st District | Yea |
| Abdelnasser Rashid | Democrat | 21st District | Yea |
| Adam M. Niemerg | Republican | 102nd District | Nay |
| Amy Briel | Democrat | 76th District | Yea |
| Amy Elik | Republican | 111th District | Nay |
| Amy L. Grant | Republican | 47th District | Nay |
| Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar | Democrat | 22nd District | Yea |
| Ann M. Williams | Democrat | 11th District | Yea |
| Anna Moeller | Democrat | 43rd District | Yea |
| Anne Stava | Democrat | 81st District | Yea |
| Anthony DeLuca | Democrat | 80th District | Yea |
| Barbara Hernandez | Democrat | 50th District | Yea |
| Blaine Wilhour | Republican | 110th District | Nay |
| Bob Morgan | Democrat | 58th District | Yea |
| Brad Halbrook | Republican | 107th District | Nay |
| Brad Stephens | Republican | 20th District | Absent, excused |
| Bradley Fritts | Republican | 74th District | Nay |
| Brandun Schweizer | Republican | 104th District | Nay |
| Camille Y. Lilly | Democrat | 78th District | Yea |
| Carol Ammons | Democrat | 103rd District | Absent, excused |
| Charles Meier | Republican | 109th District | Nay |
| Chris Miller | Republican | 101st District | Nay |
| Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer | Republican | 100th District | Nay |
| Curtis J. Tarver, II | Democrat | 25th District | Yea |
| Dagmara Avelar | Democrat | 85th District | Yea |
| Dan Swanson | Republican | 71st District | Nay |
| Dan Ugaste | Republican | 65th District | Nay |
| Daniel Didech | Democrat | 59th District | Yea |
| Dave Severin | Republican | 116th District | Nay |
| Dave Vella | Democrat | 68th District | Yea |
| David Friess | Republican | 115th District | Nay |
| Debbie Meyers-Martin | Democrat | 38th District | Yea |
| Dennis Tipsword | Republican | 105th District | Nay |
| Diane Blair-Sherlock | Democrat | 46th District | Yea |
| Edgar González, Jr. | Democrat | 23rd District | Yea |
| Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez | Democrat | 2nd District | Yea |
| Eva-Dina Delgado | Democrat | 3rd District | Yea |
| Fred Crespo | Democrat | 44th District | Yea |
| Gregg Johnson | Democrat | 72nd District | Yea |
| Harry Benton | Democrat | 97th District | Yea |
| Hoan Huynh | Democrat | 13th District | Yea |
| Jackie Haas | Republican | 79th District | Nay |
| Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. | Democrat | 40th District | Yea |
| Janet Yang Rohr | Democrat | 41st District | Yea |
| Jason R. Bunting | Republican | 106th District | Nay |
| Jawaharial Williams | Democrat | 10th District | Yea |
| Jay Hoffman | Democrat | 113th District | Yea |
| Jed Davis | Republican | 75th District | Nay |
| Jeff Keicher | Republican | 70th District | Nay |
| Jehan Gordon-Booth | Democrat | 92nd District | Yea |
| Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz | Democrat | 17th District | Yea |
| Jennifer Sanalitro | Republican | 48th District | Nay |
| Joe C. Sosnowski | Republican | 69th District | Nay |
| John M. Cabello | Republican | 90th District | Nay |
| Joyce Mason | Democrat | 61st District | Yea |
| Justin Slaughter | Democrat | 27th District | Yea |
| Kam Buckner | Democrat | 26th District | Yea |
| Katie Stuart | Democrat | 112th District | Yea |
| Kelly M. Cassidy | Democrat | 14th District | Yea |
| Kevin John Olickal | Democrat | 16th District | Yea |
| Kevin Schmidt | Republican | 114th District | Nay |
| Kimberly Du Buclet | Democrat | 5th District | Yea |
| Kyle Moore | Republican | 99th District | Nay |
| La Shawn K. Ford | Democrat | 8th District | Yea |
| Laura Faver Dias | Democrat | 62nd District | Yea |
| Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. | Democrat | 86th District | Yea |
| Lilian Jiménez | Democrat | 4th District | Yea |
| Lindsey LaPointe | Democrat | 19th District | Yea |
| Lisa Davis | Democrat | 32nd District | Yea |
| Marcus C. Evans, Jr. | Democrat | 33rd District | Yea |
| Margaret Croke | Democrat | 12th District | Yea |
| Martha Deuter | Democrat | 45th District | Yea |
| Martin J. Moylan | Democrat | 55th District | Yea |
| Martin McLaughlin | Republican | 52nd District | Nay |
| Mary Beth Canty | Democrat | 54th District | Yea |
| Mary Gill | Democrat | 35th District | Yea |
| Matt Hanson | Democrat | 83rd District | Yea |
| Maura Hirschauer | Democrat | 49th District | Yea |
| Maurice A. West, II | Democrat | 67th District | Yea |
| Michael Crawford | Democrat | 31st District | Yea |
| Michael J. Coffey, Jr. | Republican | 95th District | Nay |
| Michael J. Kelly | Democrat | 15th District | Yea |
| Michelle Mussman | Democrat | 56th District | Yea |
| Mr. Speaker | Democrat | 7th District | Yea |
| Nabeela Syed | Democrat | 51st District | Yea |
| Natalie A. Manley | Democrat | 98th District | Yea |
| Nicholas K. Smith | Democrat | 34th District | Yea |
| Nicole La Ha | Republican | 82nd District | Nay |
| Nicolle Grasse | Democrat | 53rd District | Yea |
| Norine K. Hammond | Republican | 94th District | Nay |
| Norma Hernandez | Democrat | 77th District | Yea |
| Patrick Sheehan | Republican | 37th District | Nay |
| Patrick Windhorst | Republican | 117th District | Nay |
| Paul Jacobs | Republican | 118th District | Nay |
| Regan Deering | Republican | 88th District | Absent, excused |
| Rick Ryan | Democrat | 36th District | Yea |
| Rita Mayfield | Democrat | 60th District | Yea |
| Robert "Bob" Rita | Democrat | 28th District | Yea |
| Robyn Gabel | Democrat | 18th District | Yea |
| Ryan Spain | Republican | 73rd District | Nay |
| Sharon Chung | Democrat | 91st District | Yea |
| Sonya M. Harper | Democrat | 6th District | Yea |
| Stephanie A. Kifowit | Democrat | 84th District | Absent, excused |
| Steven Reick | Republican | 63rd District | Nay |
| Sue Scherer | Democrat | 96th District | Absent, excused |
| Suzanne M. Ness | Democrat | 66th District | Yea |
| Terra Costa Howard | Democrat | 42nd District | Yea |
| Thaddeus Jones | Democrat | 29th District | Yea |
| Theresa Mah | Democrat | 24th District | Yea |
| Tom Weber | Republican | 64th District | Nay |
| Tony M. McCombie | Republican | 89th District | Nay |
| Tracy Katz Muhl | Democrat | 57th District | Yea |
| Travis Weaver | Republican | 93rd District | Nay |
| Wayne A. Rosenthal | Republican | 108th District | Nay |
| Will Guzzardi | Democrat | 39th District | Yea |
| William "Will" Davis | Democrat | 30th District | Yea |
| William E Hauter | Republican | 87th District | Nay |
| Yolonda Morris | Democrat | 9th District | Yea |
| Legislator | Party | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarón M. Ortíz | Democrat | 1st District | Yea |
| Abdelnasser Rashid | Democrat | 21st District | Yea |
| Adam M. Niemerg | Republican | 102nd District | Nay |
| Amy Briel | Democrat | 76th District | Yea |
| Amy Elik | Republican | 111th District | Nay |
| Amy L. Grant | Republican | 47th District | Nay |
| Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar | Democrat | 22nd District | Yea |
| Ann M. Williams | Democrat | 11th District | Yea |
| Anna Moeller | Democrat | 43rd District | Yea |
| Anne Stava | Democrat | 81st District | Yea |
| Anthony DeLuca | Democrat | 80th District | Yea |
| Barbara Hernandez | Democrat | 50th District | Yea |
| Blaine Wilhour | Republican | 110th District | Nay |
| Bob Morgan | Democrat | 58th District | Yea |
| Brad Halbrook | Republican | 107th District | Nay |
| Brad Stephens | Republican | 20th District | Yea |
| Bradley Fritts | Republican | 74th District | Nay |
| Brandun Schweizer | Republican | 104th District | Nay |
| Camille Y. Lilly | Democrat | 78th District | Yea |
| Carol Ammons | Democrat | 103rd District | Yea |
| Charles Meier | Republican | 109th District | Nay |
| Chris Miller | Republican | 101st District | Nay |
| Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer | Republican | 100th District | Nay |
| Curtis J. Tarver, II | Democrat | 25th District | Yea |
| Dagmara Avelar | Democrat | 85th District | Yea |
| Dan Swanson | Republican | 71st District | Nay |
| Dan Ugaste | Republican | 65th District | Nay |
| Daniel Didech | Democrat | 59th District | Yea |
| Dave Severin | Republican | 116th District | Nay |
| Dave Vella | Democrat | 68th District | Yea |
| David Friess | Republican | 115th District | Nay |
| Debbie Meyers-Martin | Democrat | 38th District | Yea |
| Dennis Tipsword | Republican | 105th District | Nay |
| Diane Blair-Sherlock | Democrat | 46th District | Yea |
| Edgar González, Jr. | Democrat | 23rd District | Yea |
| Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez | Democrat | 2nd District | Yea |
| Eva-Dina Delgado | Democrat | 3rd District | Yea |
| Fred Crespo | Democrat | 44th District | Yea |
| Gregg Johnson | Democrat | 72nd District | Yea |
| Harry Benton | Democrat | 97th District | Yea |
| Hoan Huynh | Democrat | 13th District | Yea |
| Jackie Haas | Republican | 79th District | Not vote |
| Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. | Democrat | 40th District | Yea |
| Janet Yang Rohr | Democrat | 41st District | Yea |
| Jason R. Bunting | Republican | 106th District | Nay |
| Jawaharial Williams | Democrat | 10th District | Yea |
| Jay Hoffman | Democrat | 113th District | Yea |
| Jed Davis | Republican | 75th District | Nay |
| Jeff Keicher | Republican | 70th District | Nay |
| Jehan Gordon-Booth | Democrat | 92nd District | Yea |
| Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz | Democrat | 17th District | Yea |
| Jennifer Sanalitro | Republican | 48th District | Yea |
| Joe C. Sosnowski | Republican | 69th District | Nay |
| John M. Cabello | Republican | 90th District | Nay |
| Joyce Mason | Democrat | 61st District | Yea |
| Justin Slaughter | Democrat | 27th District | Yea |
| Kam Buckner | Democrat | 26th District | Yea |
| Katie Stuart | Democrat | 112th District | Yea |
| Kelly M. Cassidy | Democrat | 14th District | Yea |
| Kevin John Olickal | Democrat | 16th District | Yea |
| Kevin Schmidt | Republican | 114th District | Nay |
| Kimberly Du Buclet | Democrat | 5th District | Yea |
| Kyle Moore | Republican | 99th District | Nay |
| La Shawn K. Ford | Democrat | 8th District | Yea |
| Laura Faver Dias | Democrat | 62nd District | Yea |
| Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. | Democrat | 86th District | Not vote |
| Lilian Jiménez | Democrat | 4th District | Yea |
| Lindsey LaPointe | Democrat | 19th District | Yea |
| Lisa Davis | Democrat | 32nd District | Yea |
| Marcus C. Evans, Jr. | Democrat | 33rd District | Yea |
| Margaret Croke | Democrat | 12th District | Yea |
| Martha Deuter | Democrat | 45th District | Yea |
| Martin J. Moylan | Democrat | 55th District | Yea |
| Martin McLaughlin | Republican | 52nd District | Nay |
| Mary Beth Canty | Democrat | 54th District | Yea |
| Mary Gill | Democrat | 35th District | Yea |
| Matt Hanson | Democrat | 83rd District | Yea |
| Maura Hirschauer | Democrat | 49th District | Yea |
| Maurice A. West, II | Democrat | 67th District | Yea |
| Michael Crawford | Democrat | 31st District | Yea |
| Michael J. Coffey, Jr. | Republican | 95th District | Nay |
| Michael J. Kelly | Democrat | 15th District | Yea |
| Michelle Mussman | Democrat | 56th District | Yea |
| Mr. Speaker | Democrat | 7th District | Yea |
| Nabeela Syed | Democrat | 51st District | Yea |
| Natalie A. Manley | Democrat | 98th District | Yea |
| Nicholas K. Smith | Democrat | 34th District | Yea |
| Nicole La Ha | Republican | 82nd District | Yea |
| Nicolle Grasse | Democrat | 53rd District | Yea |
| Norine K. Hammond | Republican | 94th District | Nay |
| Norma Hernandez | Democrat | 77th District | Yea |
| Patrick Sheehan | Republican | 37th District | Nay |
| Patrick Windhorst | Republican | 117th District | Yea |
| Paul Jacobs | Republican | 118th District | Nay |
| Regan Deering | Republican | 88th District | Nay |
| Rick Ryan | Democrat | 36th District | Yea |
| Rita Mayfield | Democrat | 60th District | Yea |
| Robert "Bob" Rita | Democrat | 28th District | Yea |
| Robyn Gabel | Democrat | 18th District | Yea |
| Ryan Spain | Republican | 73rd District | Nay |
| Sharon Chung | Democrat | 91st District | Yea |
| Sonya M. Harper | Democrat | 6th District | Yea |
| Stephanie A. Kifowit | Democrat | 84th District | Yea |
| Steven Reick | Republican | 63rd District | Nay |
| Sue Scherer | Democrat | 96th District | Absent, excused |
| Suzanne M. Ness | Democrat | 66th District | Yea |
| Terra Costa Howard | Democrat | 42nd District | Yea |
| Thaddeus Jones | Democrat | 29th District | Yea |
| Theresa Mah | Democrat | 24th District | Yea |
| Tom Weber | Republican | 64th District | Nay |
| Tony M. McCombie | Republican | 89th District | Yea |
| Tracy Katz Muhl | Democrat | 57th District | Yea |
| Travis Weaver | Republican | 93rd District | Nay |
| Wayne A. Rosenthal | Republican | 108th District | Nay |
| Will Guzzardi | Democrat | 39th District | Yea |
| William "Will" Davis | Democrat | 30th District | Yea |
| William E Hauter | Republican | 87th District | Nay |
| Yolonda Morris | Democrat | 9th District | Yea |
Alerts Sign-up