* CBS Chicago…

The Electric Vehicle Charging Act is meant to provide relief and calls for various mandates in Illinois as more and more EVs hit the roads.

“My experience hearing from constituents about this is what’s encouraging me,” said State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, who is sponsoring the bill. […]

Tenants would have the right to ask for an EV plug, then landlords have the right to make the requesting renter pay for installation.

Another requirement would apply to developers of new residential buildings or single-family homes, who would need to provide conduit, tubing that protects and routes wires, to establish framework for possible future EV parking spots. […]

The Illinois Senate could vote on the Electric Vehicle Charging Act as soon as this week.

* Press release…

State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, is continuing to advocate for both companion and livestock animals statewide after advancing a bill aimed at ensuring consumers know, based on product labeling, whether pet food and commercial feed contain major food allergens.

“Farmers, ranchers and pet owners need and deserve to know what is in their animals’ food, especially when it comes to common food allergens,” Carroll said. “That’s why it’s important to have clear definitions of what counts as a food allergen, as well as unambiguous standards as to how allergen-containing food and feed are labeled.”

Carroll’s House Bill 1290 would provide that commercial feed or pet food is mislabeled when its label fails to disclose that it contains a “food allergen”. Milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, sesame, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans—as well as any food ingredient containing proteins derived from any of those—are currently defined as food allergens. The bill was recently approved for consideration by the full House of Representatives by the House Consumer Protection Committee.

* HB3950 is on First Reading…

@Repevans33 gave a rallying cry to the neighbors in the audience. He promised to fight for HB 3950, the bill he’s leaving in Springfield to create a statewide #ChildTaxCredit. As the son of a single mom, he felt this issue was personal. pic.twitter.com/khwoCY1DQx

— Economic Security for Illinois (@EconsecureIL) March 20, 2023

* The Edwardsville Intelligencer…

Introduced by House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, House Bill 3203 would allow pharmacists and retail stores to sell fentanyl test strips over the counter. County health departments could also distribute the test strips for free.

McCombie said the bill, which has Democrats and Republicans signed on as co-sponsors, is a necessary first step to address the fentanyl epidemic.

“It also amends the word for test strips to be removed from statute,” McCombie said. “Currently, it’s considered drug paraphernalia, so it takes that definition out of there.” […]

McCombie’s bill Thursday was placed on the calendar for a third reading. March 24 is the deadline to advance bills in the House out of third reading. […]

Davidsmeyer said House Bill 1121, sponsored by state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, unanimously passed on third reading this week and would allow any trained overdose responder to use a testing device. Davidsmeyer he favors McCombie’s bill because it is stronger, but he hopes the provisions of both will be enacted into law.

* WGN…

House Bill 1110, introduced by Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) on Jan. 12, would give Illinois residents the option to carry a digital driver’s license.

“Pull up their phone and have all their information right there,” Rep. Buckner said. “(I) embraced this idea that Illinois can come once again to the 21st century and our ability to use technological tools at our disposable to make things easier.” […]

Recently elected Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also has expressed support for the idea of a mobile driver’s license and having it act as a companion to the physical one.

From the synopsis…

Provides that the display of a digitized driver’s license shall not serve as consent or authorization for a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to search, view, or access any other data or application on the mobile device

* Fox Chicago…

On Friday, healthcare professionals and state officials launched the “Healthy Illinois For All” bill. The expansion would include long-term services and support immigrant health benefits.

“Without the ability to stay healthy and seek regular preventive care, our community members cannot maintain stable jobs, cannot get their education in schools, cannot care for their families at home. That’s why this legislation is so critical,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, President and CEO of Sinai Chicago.

The bill would make Illinois the first state to pay for health care coverage to uninsured, low-income immigrant adults under the age of 55.

* Play Illinois…

Folks are waiting to find out if Illinois online casinos will become a reality in The Prairie State. Unfortunately, the bills that could make that happen have run into some roadblocks on their way to becoming law.

Illinois online casino bills HB2239 and SB1656 both hit snags on March 10 when they entered committees where they could die due to inaction. However, there is still hope for the Internet Gaming Act before the Illinois General Assembly adjourns on May 19.

HB2239 was re-routed from the House Gaming Committee to the House Rules Committee. That same day, SB1656 moved from the Senate Executive Committee to the Senate Assignments Committee.

Lawmakers appear to be treating the bills the same way right now. State Senator Cristina Castro introduced SB1655. She is also the chair of the Senate Executive Committee.

Meanwhile, The House Gaming Committee canceled its March 1 and 8 hearings on the measure before re-referring it to Rules Committee.

* Patrick Keck…

At a House Ethics and Elections Committee hearing this week, two bills were discussed that would bring ranked choice voting to the state. The format, where voters select a first, second, third, and so forth candidate, has gained traction recently in states such as Alaska. […]

The bills - House Bill 2807 from state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, and House Bill 3749 from state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago - focus on presidential primaries, and municipal and township office races respectively. […]

Amber McReynolds, a senior political strategist with Issue One, said that based on RCV data from states such as Alaska, New York, and California that already use RCV, voter turnout has improved while helping to manage a large field of candidates.

Neither HB 2807 nor HB 3749 have effective dates nor have been moved out of committee, but McReynolds thinks if passed, the legislation could be quickly implemented.