State Senator Terri Bryant

06/01/2026

It is a little past 3 a.m., and the Senate has finally voted on the budget. This budget is irresponsible, unsustainable, and wrong for Illinois.

05/31/2026

I issued the following statement in opposition to House Bill 1700, a trailer bill Democrat lawmakers touted as a fix to the problems created by Senate Bill 25.

https://senatorbryant.com/2026/05/31/senator-bryant-reacts-to-so-called-energy-trailer-bill/

05/29/2026

𝗔 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

05/28/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬

Illinois consumers could soon have a clearer understanding of the fees and surcharges included on their monthly utility bills, thanks to legislation filed by State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) and sponsored by State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) that passed the Senate unanimously.

House Bill 5524 requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) to compile information on electric utility fees and surcharges and make that information publicly available in a clear and accessible format.

"For too long, Illinois consumers have been asked to pay a growing list of fees without a clear understanding of where those costs come from or where the money goes," said Senator Bryant. "This legislation is about transparency and accountability. If Illinois families are footing the bill, they deserve an easy way to see exactly what they are paying for. I would also like to thank Representative Severin for his partnership and leadership in advancing this important consumer transparency initiative."

Under the legislation, information regarding charges collected through electric utility bills will be compiled and reported, including identifying amounts that are remitted to the state and amounts retained by utilities. The goal is to provide consumers with a clearer picture of how their utility bills are structured and where their money is going.

"As utility bills continue to climb, consumers deserve more than a confusing list of line items and acronyms,” continued Senator Bryant. "They deserve straightforward information about the charges being added to their bills and whether those fees are going to the state or being retained by utilities. Greater transparency helps build trust and allows ratepayers to make more informed decisions."

House Bill 5524 passed the Senate unanimously and now returns to the House for concurrence.

05/26/2026

We are in the final week of our scheduled spring legislative session. Check out my latest bulletin to stay up-to-date.

Republican Senators Grill Controversial Secretary of DHS Appointment Recently, the Illinois Senate considered the appointment of Dulce Quintero as Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS), with Senate Republicans raising concerns about accountability and transparency within the agency. Du...

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Let’s take a moment to reflect as we celebrate the heroes who protect us every day. 🇺🇸

05/21/2026

We are almost done with the second-to-last week of our spring legislative session. Check out my latest bulletin to stay up-to-date on what's happening.

Lawmakers Enter Final Two Weeks of Session With just two weeks remaining before the scheduled May 31 adjournment, Illinois lawmakers still have numerous major issues to resolve before the spring legislative session comes to a close. The biggest task ahead will be passing the state’s next budget. G...

05/12/2026

Today, we honored the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others at the Firefighter Memorial Ceremony at the State Capitol.

Their courage, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day 💗

Thank you to all the amazing Moms out there!

05/07/2026

Today, I joined colleagues, law enforcement officers, and families at the State Capitol to honor those who gave their lives protecting our communities.

We owe them a debt we can never fully repay. Their legacy of service and sacrifice will always be remembered.