Senate Republicans Unveil Legislative Agenda to Address Illinois’ Energy Affordability Crisis
During the first week of the spring legislative session, members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus joined together to warn that Governor Pritzker’s recently-signed Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) will make an already serious energy affordability crisis even worse for families and small businesses across the state.
After years of record-high electric bills, Republicans say CRGA removes important consumer protections, including long-standing rate caps that limited how high utility costs could climb. The law also shifts billions of dollars in new costs and financial risk onto ratepayers while expanding the authority of unelected regulators to make decisions that could have a severe impact on Illinois power bills.
State Senator Sally Turner says families are already struggling, and this law does nothing to bring relief. He says that instead of making things better, CRGA weakens protections, strips local control, and doubles down on policies that drive costs higher.
Critics of the new law also raise concerns about how CRGA prioritizes expensive, short-duration technologies that cannot replace reliable baseload power. They argue that reducing reliable generation while increasing mandates has driven prices higher and made the grid less dependable.
Senate Republicans are offering clear alternatives to this ill-conceived new law. Their proposals focus on restoring rate caps, expanding reliable energy sources like nuclear power and natural gas, allowing new generation to be built more quickly, and repealing forced shutdown dates that reduce the supply of electricity. They are also advancing legislation to restore local siting authority, so communities have a voice in decisions that affect their residents.
Spring Session Gets Underway
Lawmakers returned to the Capitol last week, officially kicking off the spring legislative session. For Senate Republicans, the focus this session is about once again advancing practical solutions to address Illinois’ affordability crisis and provide real relief for hardworking taxpayers and businesses across the state.
The week also marked an important deadline for drafting bills, keeping Republican senators busy as they filed legislation aligned with those priorities. Proposals once again focus on tackling crime, lowering taxes, making Illinois a more affordable place to live and work, rooting out corruption, and addressing waste and fraud in state government.
While the session is just getting started, State Senator Sally Turner says she is ready to get to work on policies that improve public safety, strengthen the economy, and hold government accountable.
Raising Awareness During Radon Action Month
During Radon Action Month, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Office of Homeland Security, and the American Lung Association in Illinois are partnering together to raise awareness about radon and the serious health risks it can pose.
According to the CDC, Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water that can get trapped inside homes and buildings and build up in the air. Over time, breathing in high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.
As part of the effort to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of radon, IEMA and its partners have launched two statewide awareness contests for 2026. High school students are invited to create a 30-second commercial-style video, while middle school students can submit posters encouraging radon testing. Entries for both contests are being accepted through March 15. For more information on the awareness poster and video contest, visit https://iemaohs.illinois.gov/nrs/radon/radoncontest.html.
Radon test kits are also available at a discounted rate for Illinois residents, while supplies last, by visiting lung.org/radon-test or calling the Illinois Radon Helpline at 800-325-1245.
Warm Neighbors Cool Friends Offers Energy Bill Assistance
With Illinoisans across the state seeing increases in their energy bills, Ameren is partnering with the Energy Assistance Foundation to offer in-need ratepayers with additional support through the Warm Neighbors Cool Friends program, which provides bill payment support for eligible households across Ameren Illinois’ service territory.
According to the Foundation, thousands of Illinois families struggle each year to keep their homes safe and comfortable during the winter and summer months. As energy prices continue to soar, the Energy Assistance Foundation recently added an additional $2 million to the relief program for Illinois customers facing financial hardships back in December.
Warm Neighbors Cool Friends provides eligible households with up to $500 in bill payment assistance through the Foundation.
To qualify, a matching customer payment is required within the last 45 days. Eligible customers include those with incomes between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or at 80% of the county’s Area Median Income (AMI).
To learn more about the program, visit https://www.warmneighborscoolfriends.org.