* SJ-R…

The Illinois House of Representatives rejected a measure Wednesday night designed to provide protection to consumers in the case of a contract dispute between an insurance company and a health care provider.

“The main gist of it is to provide network adequacy, to get rid of ghost networks, and transparency,” said Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, on the House floor Scherer is the chief sponsor of the bill.

The bill, HB 1463, was rejected by the House on a vote of 40-21-7, with 50 of the House’s 118 members not voting on the measure. It needed 60 votes to pass. […]

“Tomorrow, if I want to answer who’s owned by the insurance companies, guess what? I’m handing them a roll call and you try to explain it,” said Scherer.

“If you just don’t care, why are you even here?” she added.

The roll call is here.

* Press release…

Legislation to include motorcycles in the discussion of electric transportation—specifically to incentivize the purchase and use of electric motorcycles—was advanced by both chambers of the General Assembly Wednesday evening.

“ABATE of Illinois is pleased the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed SB2940. When signed into law, this will ensure all motorcycles, including electric motorcycles, are included in the future of Illinois transportation,” said Ryan Hubbard, State Coordinator for ABATE of Illinois. “Motorcycles are a primary mode of transportation for thousands of riders in Illinois, and their inclusion in transportation planning is an important part of ensuring everyone can return home safe after every ride.”

When the Clean Energy Jobs Act passed in 2021 with electric vehicle language that specifically excluded motorcycles, ABATE of Illinois made it a priority to remedy the issue. The changes in Senate Bill 2940 ensures electric motorcycles are considered when planning infrastructure and provides an incentive of $1,500 towards the purchase of an electric motorcycle.

“The transition to electric vehicles will affect all forms of transportation. As a longtime supporter of motorcyclists in Illinois, I wanted to make sure they were treated equally when it came to this transition,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), chief sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to bring together stakeholders to secure motorcycles as part of the future of transportation in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 2940 passed both chambers of the General Assembly with no opposition. The bill had over 30 Senate sponsors and 60 House sponsors, including the Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader.

“The unanimous bipartisan support of SB2940 by the General Assembly sends a clear message that motorcycles will continue to be accounted for when planning the future of transportation,” said Josh Witkowski, State Legislative Coordinator. “ABATE of Illinois looks forward to having the Governor sign this bill and join with the General Assembly in their support of Illinois motorcyclists.”

* Press release…

To offer financial relief to struggling wine makers, the Illinois Senate adopted a measure championed by State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) to lower licensing fees for first-class manufacturers.

“Wineries are unique small businesses providing service to residents and visitors throughout the entire state,” Crowe said. “By re-implementing the previous licensing fees, we can offer financial support to wine operators as they work to recover following pandemic-related burdens.”

In partnership with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Crowe’s measure lowers the licensing fees for first-class wine manufacturers to $750 if renewed online and $900 for initial or non-online certification. Under a law passed in 2021, the fees were raised to $1,200 if renewed online and $1,500 for initial licenses and non-online.

“Wineries in Illinois offer diverse experiences, but the industry endured similar hits during the pandemic due to a business model built almost exclusively on social visits, tastings and in-person sales,” Crowe said. “Wineries play a critical role in developing local economies and tourism, and I will continue to explore initiatives to help producers grow their operations.”

Senate Bill 1001 moves to the House for further consideration.

* Press release…

This week, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed legislation filed by State Representative Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich), House Bill 4593, to hold those who sexually abuse children accountable. The legislation, which previously passed the Illinois House in February, is now ready for the Governor to sign into law.

“The unanimous passage of House Bill 4593 in both the House and Senate says to victims in a unified voice that we see you, we hear you and we will not let your abusers off the hook for their depraved actions,” said Bos.

Under the legislation, those who pay for sex would no longer be able to claim they did not know the person they solicited for sex was underage or was a person with an intellectual disability and use it as an affirmative defense. This change in the law would place the burden on the exploiter who solicited the sex to prove they did not know their victim was underage or disabled, rather than placing the burden on the victim.

Bos, an advocate for victims of sexual exploitation, noted during the debate on the House floor in February that the majority of the underage who are exploited are victims of human trafficking who have been forced or manipulated into their sexual abuse.

“Making it harder for these predators to escape justice is vital to ensuring fewer children and vulnerable people become victims,” said Bos.

State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) carried the legislation in the State Senate. Speaking of his support, Bos said, “I’m proud to have a partner like Sen. McConchie working alongside me, and other advocates, in the fight against sexual exploitation.”

* Press release…

To better recognize the historic injustices that Black farmers face in the agriculture industry, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) is leading a measure to create the Agriculture Equity Commission.

“For far too long, our Black famers have been systemically pushed out of the agriculture sector of Illinois,” Simmons said. “My goal is to see this commission address the root issues and find actionable solutions to give Black farmers justice in the largest job producing sector in Illinois.”

The commission would reflect representation of socially disadvantaged communities, businesses, and farmers, and include academics, policy experts, and legislators who are experienced in agriculture and related matters.

In 1920, Illinois had 892 Black farmers, and Black Americans owned 14% of the nation’s farmland. As of the 2017 Agricultural Census, there are 188 individually Black-owned farms which make up a combined 40,412 acres. Out of the 116,417 agricultural producers in Illinois, 267 are Black and 115,896 are Caucasian. Farming is Illinois’ top job producing industry.

“I want to thank the stakeholders who worked with Rep. Sonja Harper and me on this timely legislation,” Simmons said. “I appreciate the bipartisan nature of the passage and look forward to righting the wrongs of previous generations.”

House Bill 5201 passed the Senate and awaits further consideration.

* Press release…

State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) championed a measure that passed the Senate Wednesday that would give people another option to become an organ donor.

“In January 2010, I received a kidney transplant,” Belt said. “After living on dialysis for a year, I understand how important organ donors are.”

House Bill 4696 would allow the Department of Natural Resources to offer online hunting license holders the opportunity to be redirected to the First Person Consent Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. On average, 300 people die each year waiting for an organ donation. More than 4,700 Illinois residents are waiting for an organ or tissue donation. In 2020, there were 7 million Illinoisans registered as organ donors.

The first-person consent law provides an opportunity to save more lives and ensures that your wish to be an organ/tissue donor is honored. Prior to the first-person consent registry, many Illinoisans who signed the back of their driver’s license as a donor were unaware that family consent was still required in order for donation to occur.

“Organ donors save hundreds of life,” Belt said. “This measure would make it easier for individuals who hold hunting license to join the organ registry.”

House Bill 4696 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and heads to the governor’s desk.

* Coming late to this…

Echoing action taken around the world in response to Russia’s unwarranted invasion of Ukraine, state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, passed a comprehensive effort Tuesday to welcome Ukrainian refugees to Illinois and end state investment in Russian financial interests.

“It is absolutely tragic to see the senseless pain and suffering that has been forced on the Ukrainian people,” LaPointe said. “We have a moral obligation to stand up against Russian aggression, it’s important for Illinois to send a strong message and impose new rules that target the financial support for Putin’s war machine.”

“We’ve all witnessed the horrors taking place in Ukraine at the hands of Vladimir Putin, and his actions continue to threaten democracy around the world,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “What the Illinois House passed today won’t stop Putin’s war, but it ensures Illinois is collectively pulling every lever possible to support the Ukrainian people. I want to congratulate Representative LaPointe for her hard work on this consequential piece of legislation.”

LaPointe introduced House Bill 1293, which puts Illinois on a path to divest from Russian stocks and sovereign debt, including money found in the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and funds directly overseen by the Illinois State Board of Investment (ISBI). Systems not controlled by the state, including the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) are strongly encouraged to follow the state’s lead in divestment. Russia’s war ally Belarus is also targeted for disinvestment.

Additionally, the proposal would provide the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) emergency rulemaking powers to begin a Refugee Resettlement Program that could provide health care, mental health services and English language assistance to Ukrainians and others who are granted temporary protected status or refugee status.

House Bill 1293 also includes a plan to develop a Money Laundering in Real Estate Task Force that would assess the exposure of residential, industrial and commercial real estate sectors in Illinois to illicit Russian investments.

“I know there’s been a strong local response in support of the Ukrainian people, and I’m grateful for those who have taken time to donate to those in need,” LaPointe said. “There’s no place for this kind of violence in the world, let’s do our part as a state to make an impact.”

LaPointe’s measure passed the House Tuesday without opposition, and heads to the Senate for consideration.

…Adding… The Democrats held caucus meetings on these bills and every member but one of the Black Caucus and Latino Caucus voted for this particular bill. This is one person complaining. Not saying he doesn’t have a point about the bill itself. Politico…

SLEIGHT OF HAND: Moderate Democrats in Springfield pulled a familiar move Wednesday to ram a series of public safety bills through the House. They brought up the bills the same day as the vote, giving little time for progressives to study the language and no time for the public to comment.

It’s the kind of move Democrats make on Republicans when they want to get legislation passed quickly.

“My concern is that I can’t sell this to people in my district because it doesn’t make them feel safer,” Democratic Rep. Curtis Tarver II told Playbook.

He points to House Bill 1103, a new measure that would prevent law enforcement from using cameras on expressways to profile people. Problem is, if someone is concerned about a video and wants to see it, the Illinois State Police wouldn’t have to answer a FOIA because it doesn’t have the staffing to do so (even though the governor and both chambers are pushing to beef up cadet classes so there would be more employees to process FOIAs). The legislation also requires that the video be deleted after 180 days.

“It doesn’t set a good precedent to allow an agency without any proof of a unique hardship to exempt itself from FOIA, then simultaneously require that agency to destroy the very evidence that could prove profiling,” said Tarver, who didn’t vote on the bill.

HB 1103, along with other public safety measures pushed by moderate Democrats, passed the House with Republican support and are headed to the Senate, where they could be taken up as early as today.

…Adding… Press release…

Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would require people to keep record of the sale of catalytic converters.

“Catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed,” Munoz said. “Too often innocent people come to find parts missing from their car, leaving them without transportation. We have to find a way to end these senseless crimes.”

House Bill 107 would add catalytic converters to the definition of recyclable metal, requiring record keeping on the purchase of catalytic converters. The license plate number of the vehicle, photographs or video of the seller, a verified name and address of the seller, and a signed declaration by the seller stating that the catalytic converter was not stolen would be required.

In addition, the measure would prohibit a recyclable metal dealer from purchasing a catalytic converter with a value over $100 with cash.

According to a recent ABC report, Illinois ranks third in the nation for catalytic converter thefts with over a 300% increase since 2019.

“This measure tightens the law that many find a way around,” Munoz said.

House Bill 107 passed the Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk.