Photo of Terra Costa Howard
D Illinois House · District 42

Rep. Terra Costa Howard

Compare
Total votes
3,181
all sessions
Attendance
76%
757 missed
Lower than 99% of chamber peers
With party
99%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
1%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
962
bills & resolutions
Lower than 86% of chamber peers
Committees
0
assignments
962 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
962
Primary
136
Co-sponsor
826
This page
962
matching current filters
Co-sponsor HB 3743
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
SCH CD-RAILROAD SAFETY

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district to include in its handbook for grades kindergarten through 12 railroad safety messaging. Allows a school to opt-out of the messaging requirement if the school district votes that the inclusion of such messaging is unnecessary.

Signed into law Jul 24, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1486
Passed · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
CONSUMER FRAUD-FEE DISCLOSURE

Creates the Junk Fee Ban Act. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for a person to: (1) offer, display, or advertise an amount a consumer may pay for merchandise without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; (2) fail, in any offer, display, or advertisement that contains an amount a consumer may pay, to display the total price more prominently than any other pricing information; (3) misrepresent the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; (4) fail to disclose clearly and conspicuously before the consumer consents to pay, the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay that is excluded from the total price, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; or (5) offer, display, or advertise, including through direct offerings, third-party distribution, or metasearch referrals, a total price for a place of short-term lodging that does not include all required fees. Requires total price disclosures for retail mercantile establishments and food service establishments; and the disclosure of delivery fees. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce violations of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Preempts home rule powers.

Passed Jul 2, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2783
Passed · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
CMS-MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that it is the duty of the Department of Central Management Services to provide free menstrual hygiene products in all State government buildings and in any public restrooms maintained by the State government that are not designated as male-only restrooms. Provides that it is the policy of the State of Illinois to provide free menstrual hygiene products in all State government buildings, unit of local government buildings, and school district buildings, and in all public restrooms maintained by any of those entities that are not designated as male-only restrooms. Provides that the Department shall coordinate with units of local government and school districts and may award grants to units of local government or school districts to effectuate this policy. Provides that the Department shall coordinate with school districts to ensure that, in the case of the provision of menstrual hygiene products in school restrooms, the employee or third-party contractor who is normally responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of toilet tissue and paper towels in school restrooms shall also be responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of menstrual hygiene products in the school restrooms. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Effective January 1, 2026.

Passed Jul 1, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 3991
In committee · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
$DHS-2-1-1 SERVICES

Maddy summaryHB 3991 proposes to appropriate $5,000,000 from the state's General Revenue Fund. This funding is designated for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to support Statewide 211 services. Statewide 211 typically refers to a telephone information and referral system that connects people to local health and human services. The bill is set to become effective on July 1, 2025.

In committee Jul 1, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1531
Passed · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
DISPOSABLE FOOD CONTAINER ACT

Creates the Disposable Food Service Container Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2030, a person may not sell or distribute in this State a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam. Specifies that the prohibition does not apply to any activity authorized under an ordinance or resolution adopted by a unit of local government on or before January 1, 2024 or with respect to sales made to a unit of local government for use by the unit of local government for its internal operations. Sets forth penalties for violations of the Act. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Passed Jun 2, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2423
Passed · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
MEDICAID-MATERNAL HLTH-DOULAS

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires hospitals and birthing centers to adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient enrolled in the medical assistance program to select an Illinois Medicaid certified and enrolled doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth, and during the patient's entire postpartum stay. Provides that the doula shall be considered part of the patient's care team and shall not be counted as a support person or against any guest quota. Requires hospitals and birthing centers to provide a written copy of their policies and procedures to maternity patients, the facilities' maternity health care providers, and any other person at the patient's request. Requires publication of the written policies on each facility's website. Contains provisions concerning hospital and birthing center liaisons and doulas certification acknowledgment requirements. Permits the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Public Health to establish standing recommendations to meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements and ensure access to preventive services, including Medicaid-covered maternal and reproductive health supports and services.

Passed Jun 1, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 1832
Passed · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
CMS-PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions regarding the management of State buildings, grants the Department of Central Management Services the power to manage, operate, maintain, and preserve from waste real properties (rather than only real properties transferred to the Department under a specified provision). Authorizes the Department of Central Management Services to grant easements and accept easements with respect to the affected properties, on such terms and conditions that in the judgment of the Director of Central Management Services are in the best interests of the State. Removes the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago from the list of properties managed by the Department of Central Management Services. Adds 115 South LaSalle Street in Chicago to the list of properties managed by the Department of Central Management Services. Makes conforming changes.

Passed Jun 1, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2584
Passed · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
INS-PRIOR AUTH HIV DRUG ACCESS

Amends the Prior Authorization Reform Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that a health insurance issuer, the fee-for-service medical assistance program, and a Medicaid managed care organization may not require prior authorization for the following prescription drug types and their therapeutic equivalents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration: human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis medication or human immunodeficiency virus treatment medication. Effective January 1, 2027.

Passed Jun 1, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2490
Passed · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
FIREFIGHTER PAID FAMILY LEAVE

Creates the Firefighter Paid Family Leave Act. Provides that a firefighter shall receive 6 weeks of paid family leave that may be used: (1) for the birth of a child in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age, a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age, or a newly adopted or placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; and (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that an employer shall compensate a firefighter granted leave under the Act at the firefighter's regular rate of pay, paid at the same interval the firefighter was paid while working, for those regular work hours during which the firefighter is absent from work. Sets forth provisions concerning employment protection and maintenance of benefits; prohibited acts, limitations of the Act; waiver of leave under the Act; and collective bargaining agreements. Limits home rule. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Passed May 21, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 1819
In committee · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDIT

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Renews the program for incentive periods beginning on or after July 1, 2018 and ending on or before June 30, 2025. Removes language concerning the Put Illinois to Work Program for the second series of incentive periods. Provides that the term "full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week (currently, employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week or renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment). Provides that a net increase in the number of full-time Illinois employees shall be treated as continuous if a different new employee is hired as a replacement within 8 weeks after the position becomes vacant (currently, a reasonable time). Effective immediately.

In committee May 21, 2026 1 co-sponsor
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