* Crain’s…

Some may consider it a bit of a moonshot, but a drive is under way in Springfield to make Illinois a competitor in the race to win new semiconductor chip factories.

At the behest of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Oakbrook Terrace, has introduced legislation to offer potentially huge tax credits to manufacturers who set up here, as opposed to going to Texas, California or any of the other usual-suspect states.

Hilton’s bill already has cleared the Senate Revenue Committee, and though it will have to return for some technical changes, the measure appears to have a pretty good head of steam.

Hilton said the bill is quite similar to a bill passed last year offering a wide range of employment, utility-tax and other credits to electric vehicle makers and suppliers. The measure, designed to boost the impact of automakers like Rivian that already are in the state, hasn’t yet paid dividends, but state officials say it should prove a success in months to come.

The bill is here.

* Press release…

On Feb. 16, State Senator Sally Turner’s (R-Beason) legislation designed to provide additional privacy protections for victims of child sex crimes passed unanimously out of the Illinois Senate.

“This legislation will empower judges to grant additional privacy to victims of child sex crimes who chose to testify by allowing the judge to use their discretion to remove non-interested parties from the courtroom,” said Sen. Turner. “This will help ensure that these vulnerable victims are not forced to speak about one of the worst moments of their life in front of countless strangers.”

Senate Bill 2942 clarifies that a judge can use his or her discretion to clear disinterested parties, excluding media, from the courtroom during the victim’s testimony even if the victim is over 18 years of age as long as the crimes were committed while the victim was still a minor. To safeguard the constitutional rights of defendants, the judge must find that particular parties do not have a direct interest in the case and must put their basis for that finding into the record.

“I am pleased to see the Senate unanimously recognize the importance of providing as much privacy protection as reasonably possible to every victim testifying about their abuse as a child,” continued Sen. Turner. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for the victims of these horrendous crimes as this legislation moves through the process.”

While Senate Bill 2942 was in committee, Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz and McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp testified in support of the legislation and addressed its importance. The legislation now heads to the House for further consideration.

* WBEZ…

The courts in Illinois are allowed to operate largely outside the prying eyes of the press and public because the state’s Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them.

The judicial branch can deny access to the same sorts of records that other local and state government officials are legally obligated to release upon request.

But a bill introduced last month in Springfield would change that.

The bill’s sponsor is Democratic state Rep. Curtis Tarver II of Chicago.

He told WBEZ it was long past time to shine more sunlight on the inner workings of court systems across Illinois.

Tarver’s bill has been assigned to House Exec.

* Press release…

A measure to make the capitol complex more accessible for visitors with disabilities clears an important hurdle thanks to State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).

“The Capitol grounds belong to all of the people,'’ said Peters. “Everyone, regardless of ability, should be able to freely move about the Capitol and be able to navigate their way through our public spaces.”

Senate Bill 0180 requires the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate to each appoint an accessibility coordinator to work in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol to address accessibility needs for each chamber.

The measure also creates the General Assembly Accessibility Task Force, which will include members appointed by each legislative leader and a chair jointly appointed by the Speaker and the President. Other appointees would include individuals with a disability or advocates for people with disabilities. The task force shall examine issues concerning accessibility of the General Assembly to persons with a disability. The task force must submit a report of their recommendations to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2023.

“This task force will address a critical lack of inclusion in the very center of democracy in this state,” Peters said. “I hope that after the task force completes its recommendations, that we are able to make our capitol grounds more accessible to all.”

The measure passed the Senate Executive committee on Wednesday.

* Senate Resolution 633 is entitled “CVS Awareness Day.” But if you read the resolution’s synopsis you might think Walgreen’s is actually behind the proposal to help wreck its top competitor’s brand. Yuck. /s