LOW INCOME BROADBAND PROGRAM

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4561

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4561

Introduced 1/30/2026, by Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program Act.
Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish
an Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program (Program) to ensure
the availability and affordability of broadband service to low income
families in order to access remote learning and work platforms. Provides
that the Department shall coordinate with local administrative agencies to
determine eligibility for the Program, provided that eligible income shall
be no more than 150% of the federal poverty level. Provides that families
whose annual household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty
level shall be eligible for free broadband service. Provides that a credit
of at least $9.95 a month for broadband services shall be payable monthly
to: (i) families whose annual household income is above 135% of the federal
poverty level but no greater than 150% of the federal poverty level; and
(ii) families that include at least one adult person or dependent child who
qualifies for or participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program, the Supplemental Security Income program, Veterans Pension and
Survivors Benefits Programs, and other specified assistance programs.
Provides that the $9.95 broadband service credit may be adjusted according
to family size. Provides that families who participate in the federal
Lifeline program or any other State Internet service subsidy program shall
not be eligible to participate in the Illinois Low Income Broadband
Assistance Program. Provides bill payment requirements. Provides for the
adoption of rules.
LRB104 18336 HLH 31776 b

A BILL FOR

HB4561
LRB104 18336 HLH 31776 b
1

AN ACT concerning State government.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 1.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
5
Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program Act.

6

Section 5.
Definitions.
As used in this Section:
7

"Broadband service" means a high speed service connection
8
to the public Internet capable of supporting, in at least one
9
direction, a speed in excess of 200 kilobits per second (kbps)
10
to the network demarcation point at the subscriber's premises.
11

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
12
Opportunity.
13

"Economic unit" means all adult individuals contributing
14
to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household.
15

"Family" or "household" means any individual or group of
16
individuals who live together at the same address as one
17
economic unit.
18

"Federal poverty level" means the poverty guidelines
19
updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S.
20
Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines set
21
poverty levels by family size.

22

Section 10.
Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance

HB4561
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LRB104 18336 HLH 31776 b
1
Program.
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
2
shall establish an Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance
3
Program to ensure the availability and affordability of
4
broadband service to low income families. The Department shall
5
coordinate with local administrative agencies to determine
6
eligibility for the Program, provided that eligible income
7
shall be no more than 150% of the federal poverty level.

8

Section 15.
Eligible families.
9

(a) Families whose annual household income is at or below
10
135% of the federal poverty level shall be eligible for free
11
broadband service.
12

(b) A credit of at least $9.95 a month for broadband
13
services shall be payable monthly to:
14

(1) families whose annual household income is above
15

135% of the federal poverty level but no greater than 150%
16

of the federal poverty level; and
17

(2) families that include at least one adult person or
18

dependent child who qualifies for or receives benefits
19

under one or more of the following programs:
20

(A) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
21

(B) the Supplemental Security Income program;
22

(C) veterans pension and survivor benefits
23

programs;
24

(D) the Federal Public Housing Assistance Program;
25

(E) the Medical Assistance Program under Article V

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LRB104 18336 HLH 31776 b
1

of the Illinois Public Aid Code;
2

(F) tribal programs for Native Americans; and
3

(G) the National School Lunch Program.
4

Credit amounts provided under this subsection (b) may be
5
adjusted according to family size as prescribed by the
6
Department.
7

(c) Families who receive a discount for broadband service
8
under the federal Lifeline program or any other State Internet
9
service subsidy program shall not be eligible to participate
10
in the Illinois Low Income Broadband Assistance Program under
11
this Act if they elect to remain enrolled in those programs.

12

Section 20.
Eligibility.
To be eligible for free broadband
13
service or a monthly credit for broadband service under this
14
Act an applicant must provide proof of eligibility in the form
15
and manner prescribed by the Department.

16

Section 25.
Broadband service payments and credit.
17

(a) For each family enrolled in the Illinois Low Income
18
Broadband Assistance Program, the Department shall remit,
19
through the local administrative agencies, to the broadband
20
service provider that portion of the family's bill that is not
21
the responsibility of the family. For purposes of this
22
Section, payment is due on the date specified on the family's
23
bill. The Department, the Department of Revenue, and local
24
administrative agencies shall adopt processes that provide for

HB4561
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LRB104 18336 HLH 31776 b
1
the timely payment required by this Section.
2

(b) Each family that receives a credit for broadband
3
service under subsection (b) of Section 15 is responsible for
4
all actual charges for broadband service in excess of the
5
credit provided under subsection (b) of Section 15. The
6
Department may terminate a program participant's eligibility
7
for the credit available under subsection (b) of Section 15
8
upon notification by the broadband service provider that the
9
participant's monthly service payment is more than 45 days
10
past due.

11

Section 30.
Rules.
The Department may adopt any rules
12
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

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