Terra Costa Howard


Terra Costa Howard is a former Democrat Illinois State Representative for the 42nd district. She was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2018. She represented the 42nd district from 2023 to 2025, when she resigned to assume a judgeship. The 42nd district includes all or parts of Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Lombard, Wheaton, Flowerfield and Villa Park.

Electoral career

Prior to her election to the Illinois House of Representatives, Costa Howard was a member of the Glen Ellyn School District 41 Board of Education and the Glen Ellyn Plan Commission.
Costa Howard defeated incumbent and House Republican Floor Leader Peter Breen in the 2018 general election. She defeated Breen again in the 2020 general election.

Illinois House of Representatives

Costa Howard was first sworn into the Illinois House of Representatives on January 9, 2019. She was reelected in 2020, 2022, and 2024. After her resignation, Margaret DeLaRosa was appointed as her successor.

Committees

As of 2022, Costa Howard serves on the following committees and subcommittees:
  • Adoption and Child Welfare
  • Appropriations - Higher Education Committee
  • Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
  • Appropriations-Human Services Committee
  • Judiciary - Civil Committee
  • Mental Health & Addiction Committee
  • Tourism Committee
  • Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee
  • Special Issues Subcommittee
  • Family Law & Probate Subcommittee

Legislation

Several pieces of legislation introduced by Costa Howard in the Illinois [House of Representatives] have gone on to become law in Illinois. HB12, of which she was the Primary Sponsor, allowed employees of a school district, public university, or community college district who had been employed for at least 12 months and who has worked at least 1,000 hours in the previous 12-month period to be eligible for family and medical leave under the same terms and conditions provided to eligible employees under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. This legislation was passed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judicial Service

On September 23, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court announced it would appoint Costa Howard as a resident circuit judge for a term starting October 17, 2025, and ending December 7, 2026.

Personal life

Costa Howard was born and raised in DuPage County, where she now resides with her spouse and their three daughters.
Costa Howard is an attorney by trade. She attended University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and DePaul University College of Law. She is also a Girl Scout leader, an adjunct professor at the College of DuPage, and a member of the Parent Teacher Association.