It’s just a bill
Monday, Jan 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WAND…
A bill filed in Springfield could stop the further criminalization of people experiencing homelessness.
A 2024 Supreme Court ruling in Johnson v. City of Grant Pass allowed local and state governments to criminalize homeless sheltering outside in public places.
This Illinois bill could ban state and local governments from creating criminal charges against the basic needs of the unhoused, such as sleeping, sitting or taking shelter on public property. […]
The plan would add to a previous bill, adding a new term called “life sustaining activities.” These would be protected rights of the unhoused to sleep, lie down, eat, drink and hold personal belongings under shelter in public property.
Rep. Kevin Olickal filed HB11429 earlier this month…
Amends the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act. Prohibits the State or a unit of local government from creating or enforcing policies or ordinances imposing fines or criminal penalties against people experiencing unsheltered homelessness for occupying or engaging in life-sustaining activities on public property. Provides exceptions to maintain access to property or address risks to public health and safety. Creates a necessity defense for charges alleging violation of laws criminalizing life-sustaining activities while the individual was experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Defines terms. Limits the exercise of concurrent home rule powers.
* HB1713 from Reps. Marty Moylan and Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar…
Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that any appointments to the Chicago Board of Education made by the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall be made with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council. Effective immediately.
* Pantagraph…
Chris Davis, director of state legislation for the Illinois Farm Bureau, predicted this year will be an interesting one for agriculture. He said many groups are looking for increased funding for conservation programs in Illinois, an effort likely to be hindered by the looming deficit.
The Illinois Farm Bureau is continuing to advocate for changes to the estate tax, which applies to all estates valued over $4 million.
An effort to raise the threshold to $6 million for family farms in Illinois failed to pass during last year’s legislative session, despite support from both parties.
Billed as the Family Farm Preservation Act, the legislation was introduced last January by state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, and state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria. It is intended to help operators of small family farms, who often fall into a “land rich, cash poor” category in which their modest farming income does not reflect the immense value of their land.
State Sen. Chapin Rose said the budget deficit is expected to hang heavily over the legislative session, but the Mahomet Republican said he still anticipates that action on the estate tax will be discussed.
* Sen. Steve Stadelman filed SB265 last week…
Amends the Local Records Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency that encrypts police scanner transmissions must provide, by license or otherwise, real-time access to those transmissions to broadcast stations, broadcasting stations, radio broadcast stations, and newspapers. Effective January 1, 2026.
* NPR Illinois…
New Republican state Rep. Regan Deering, who represents parts of Bloomington, wasted no time wading into a fierce political debate in her first days after taking office.
Deering, who ran unopposed in the 88th House District race after defeating Chuck Erickson of Bloomington in the Republican primary, has filed a bill that schools must organize sport teams by male, female, and coeducational according to their gender assigned at birth.
The bill also defends schools if a government agency or organization wanted to start an investigation, complaint, or action against them. […]
The proposal is co-sponsored by six Republican House members, all women.
* WAND…
State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) is introducing a bill that he said will improve election security in the state.
Rose wants to make it mandatory for voters in the state to bring the IDs to the polls. Right now, IDs are not required to cast a ballot unless you are also registering to vote at that time.
“For far too long, Illinois has ignored basic election security measures that people expect and deserve,” said Senator Rose. “Requiring a photo ID to vote is just plain common sense. Letting often paid canvassers collect ballots and then toss these ballots, all together, into an unsecured drop box on the side of a street is a recipe for disaster.” said Rose. […]
Rose brought up Senate Bill 181 on Friday and is now hoping to get it passed.
* HB1709 from Rep. Kam Buckner…
Creates the Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. Defines terms. Provides that a unit of local government may not prohibit the building or usage of accessory dwelling units in the unit of local government. Provides that a unit of local government may provide reasonable regulations relating to the size and location of accessory dwelling units similar to other accessory structures unless a regulation would have the effect of prohibiting accessory dwelling units. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 1:54 pm:
“An effort to raise the threshold to $6 million for family farms in Illinois failed to pass”
I have never seen any data showing how many family farms this would impact.
“It is intended to help operators of small family farms, who often fall into a “land rich, cash poor” category in which their modest farming income does not reflect the immense value of their land.”
Again, a specific example would be helpful here.
I don’t know as many farmers these days as I did in the past, but even back then every single one of them had their farms within a corporate structure which would be unimpacted by any inheritance taxation at their passing. Even in something as basic as a family trust and not a corporation, the taxes would still not be owed unless the land is sold outside of the beneficiaries within the trust.
Given that, what this actually looks to be accomplishing is giving a larger tax cushion to people who want to sell the family farm and not keep it running. This would actually encourage the sale of more smaller family farms to larger entities.
Is that the actual intent, or just an unintended consequence? Either way, it should be considered by those supporting this bill.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 2:07 pm:
Does SB 265’s definition include Proft & Timpone?
- @misterjayem - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 2:55 pm:
As sometime who has dealt with the estate planning for our family’s farm, TheInvisibleMan’s take on the effort to (unnecessarily) raise the estate tax threshold looks pretty darn solid, i.e. it’s not about keeping the farm, it’s about selling it.
– MrJM
- H-W - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 3:06 pm:
Perhaps Senator Rose just needs a compromise.
Instead of a voter ID or State ID, perhaps he should just seek to require that all persons wishing to vote should sign an oath of loyalty to the United States, and renounce any prior oaths of allegiance real or imagined, by themselves or others.
- @misterjayem - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 3:43 pm:
From the summary of Sen. Rose’s ill convinced elections bill: “Removes provisions allowing voters to apply for permanent vote by mail status. Removes a provision that authorizes election authorities to maintain one or more secure collection sites for the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots.”
Little wonder he’s been unable to attract even one co-sponsor.
– MrJM
- Loyal Virus - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 4:25 pm:
I see the minority leader wasted no time in disabusing her peers of the recent portrayal of her as a trans activist…
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 4:27 pm:
Dear Senator Rose - are you going to make getting a state ID free, or does someone have to pay for that?
- Mike Gascoigne - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 5:45 pm:
I actually agree with Senator Rose. I think the current signature based system is way more ripe for fraud and legitimate voters being turned away than an ID based system. That being said, instituting an ID based system should not be considered an opportunity to deport or malign undocumented immigrants or non-citizens. The government should assist people to get IDs financially if it is a burden to them but I really feel like everyone benefits when people have government issued IDs of some sort. The problem is trusting that Republicans won’t use the movement as an opportunity to abuse the system and harass people. Can’t say I fully trust anyone who supported a Trump regime.
- Demoralized - Monday, Jan 27, 25 @ 8:55 pm:
Can Republicans please stop with these ridiculous “secure electionz” nonsense bills. Our elections are secure. The only ones who thick they aren’t are the insurrectionist Republicans who were sure the 2020 elections were stolen because their dear leader couldn’t have possibly lost. Republicans are pathetic.
- MaryLouise - Tuesday, Jan 28, 25 @ 3:37 pm:
Voter ID cards are free. Where are you all from?
You register to vote and the card is sent to you.
Hello……….