* Patrick Keck…

The Illinois General Assembly, facing upcoming deadlines to advance bills to the next chamber, held several lengthy floor debates this week resulting in hundreds of bills passed in the House and Senate.

As of 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, a total of 320 bills had passed over a three-day stretch collectively in both chambers. The majority of the bills - 284 - were from the House while the Senate, who had not passed any bills this week until Thursday, passed 36. […]

The deadline to pass bills onto the Senate is on Friday, while the Senate has until March 31 to advance their bills to the House.

* Comptroller…

Democratic and Republican members of The Illinois House of Representatives voted 112-0 Thursday for Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza’s Act of Duty bill to provide duty-disability benefits for Chicago first responders severely stricken by COVID-19 in the days before vaccines were available.

The bill now moves to the State Senate, where State Sen. Bill Cunningham is the chief sponsor.

“Our police officers and firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, often sacrificing their own safety to ensure the safety of others,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “As we’ve learned, this legislation is simply the right thing to do for the emergency first responder community and I look forward to sponsoring the bill in the Senate.”

Officers killed by COVID-19 in the days before vaccines were available are considered to have died in an “Act of Duty” under state law, so their families get full benefits. But the city of Chicago’s police pension board has been denying Act of Duty benefits to officers including Comptroller Mendoza’s brother, Chicago Police Det. Sgt. Joaquin Mendoza, who lived through the disease but were left severely disabled.

* Sen. Preston…

Recognizing the current archaic testing and promotion procedure for Chicago firefighters, State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure today to streamline the process and ensure a more equitable system.

“The brave firemen and women of Chicago risk their lives to protect their community every day,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “I’m happy to give back to those who serve by improving this tedious process.”

Under Senate Bill 1707, which was passed in the Senate today, Chicago firefighters would no longer be exempt from the Fire Department Promotion Act – changing the current promotion process for Chicago firefighters. The purpose of the measure is to create a more standardized process of promotions to align with every other fire department in the state where the Fire Department Promotion Act has worked.

* Freshman Rep. Syed passed her first bill yesterday…

My first bill passed in the House yesterday 🎉

This bill would include voter registration as a goal in an individualized education program (IEP) for students with disabilities who are 17 years or older.

HB3643 passed with 93 votes in favor! pic.twitter.com/ZpWTENyD0i

— Rep. Nabeela Syed (@rep_nabeelasyed) March 23, 2023

* Sen. Cappel’s bill passed the Senate 57-0…

To continue her fight to address the teacher shortage, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel championed a measure that would remove the number of days short term substitute teachers can be in the classroom and application fees for teaching licenses, which passed the Senate Thursday.

“As a former special education teacher, I know the struggle of finding substitute teachers, especially with the ever-growing teacher shortage,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “I’ve heard from superintendents in the 49th District and across the state that are desperately trying to find substitute teachers. This is one step we can take to further address the teacher shortage.”

Senate Bill 2236 would remove the number of days for short-term substitute teachers to teach in the classroom – allowing them to spend more time in the classroom if needed. Current law prohibits short term substitute teachers from teaching more than 15 consecutive days per licensed teacher.

* Cool beans…

The Illinois House votes 105-0 to pass @Hanson4Illinois’s bill making the soybean the official state bean of Illinois. The fine people of Decatur — the Soybean capital of the world — will be pleased. #twill

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) March 24, 2023

* Sen. Simmons’ bill heads to the House…

In May 2022, three residents of a Rogers Park senior living complex tragically died of suspected heat exhaustion. In direct response to this tragedy and to improve the quality of life for current affordable housing residents, State Senator Mike Simmons advanced Senate Bill 2013 out of the Senate on Thursday.

“Residents of affordable housing deserve the same respect and care afforded to everyone in an environment that is safe, accessible, clean, and provided with proper cooling and heating systems,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This bill will hold housing providers accountable in making sure our neighbors, both in the 7th district and across the state, live in safe, humane housing.”

Senate Bill 2013 requires any residential building that is state-funded to meet minimum standard of living conditions to continue receiving funding from the program.

The measure would require specific air-conditioning and heating provisions to be included in all state-funded affordable housing. Air-conditioning must be operating when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees and must be operable by residents. It also clarifies language in regards to maintenance, upkeep and laundry access.

* State Journal-Register…

A bill opening the process for Illinois to create a new state flag advanced out of the Senate on Thursday, but not before a brief debate between Springfield’s two senators.

Senate Bill 1818 from state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, passed 39-16 during floor debate and will now move to the House. Her bill, still pending House approval, would create a 21-person committee tasked with deciding whether the state needs a new flag. […]

So far, Turner said her office has received hundreds of calls from middle schools and high schools wishing to participate.

“People talk all the time about disconnected the citizenry is with government,” she said during the floor debate. “I think this is a great opportunity to give people a reason to get excited about Illinois again.” […]

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, rose in opposition to his fellow Springfield legislator. He said he appreciated Turner bringing the bill to the table, even saying the new designs could be “spectacular,” but said the legislature should spend its time with more pressing matters.

* SB195 moves to the House…

State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced legislation that prevents students from changing their legal guardianship in an effort to qualify for need-based financial aid for college.

“When it comes to furthering education with limited resources, students will go to extreme measures to ensure a brighter future for themselves,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “However, no one should ever be put in a position where they have to decide between changing their guardianship and receiving financial aid in order to go to college.”

Senate Bill 195 is a direct response to previous public reports that Illinois students became eligible for need-based education financial assistance through the practice of “opportunity hoarding.” Opportunity hoarding is the practice of exploiting a loophole in the Probate Act by transferring legal guardianship from a parent to a relative or friend in lower income brackets or by declaring financial independence.

* Chicago Tribune…

A measure that would allow multiple occupancy public restrooms to be labeled gender-neutral was passed by the Illinois House on Thursday with the bare minimum of votes.

The bill, which now moves to the Senate, would amend the Equitable Restroom Act of 2019, which required all single-occupancy public restrooms to be available to all genders. The amendment would only allow restrooms with two or more toilets to be available to all. […]

The bill passed with 60 yes votes, with all but one of the 40 House Republicans voting no.

* HB4021. Fox Chicago…

A northern Illinois lawmaker is proposing new legislation that would lower the state’s minimum drinking age to 18.

The bill would amend the Liquor Control act of 1934, which was the law passed after prohibition that set the drinking age at 21. […]

“What we’d really like to have eventually passed is if you go into an establishment at 18 with your parents or guardian that you’ll be able to have an adult beverage,” said Illinois Rep. John Cabello.

Cabello told FOX 32 that the bill won’t get out of the Rules Committee any time soon, but he says he wants to start the conversation.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Lawmakers are considering bills that would create a new tax credit for affordable housing, referred to as the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit.”

The legislation, contained in the identical House Bill 2044 and Senate Bill 1737, would mirror a federal program administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and Chicago Department of Housing which helps finance affordable housing across Illinois. […]

“Our state is facing an affordable housing crisis, stemming from years of housing under-production,” Allison Clements, executive director of IHC, testified in a Senate committee. “Our state’s housing deficit has grown 64 percent since 2012, meaning we have more people needing homes than are available.”

A 2023 IHC report showed Illinois still has a deficit of low-income housing despite the federal program. According to the report, Illinois has lost 13 percent of its low-rent units since 2011. Additionally, while there are more than 450,000 extremely low-income renters in Illinois, there are only about 150,000 affordable and available rental units, creating a deficit of about 288,000.