* Center Square…

Last month at an Illinois Chamber of Commerce event in Springfield, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, was asked if they’d really end session early as scheduled.

“May 19th is the goal, that’s for sure,” Welch said. “If we can get a budget on the board May 19th that’s fiscally responsible and compassionate, we’ll get out of here on May 19th. Does that answer your question?”

Separately attending the event last month, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, was asked the same question.

“We’re out of here May 19th,” Harmon said.

The Senate will be outta here tonight, but it’s coming back Wednesday. Oopsie. The Senate President’s spokesperson at least weekly reminds me that he doesn’t do predictions. His boss might wanna consider following suit. /s

* Hmm…

BIPA bill NOT being called tonight. It was met with strong opposition from business groups, who were caught off guard when the language dropped today. #twill https://t.co/9ToTnfkHvA

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) May 19, 2023

* Here’s the link to the full presser mentioned in another post…

Audio from this press conference is available on our website: https://t.co/kNwldg3jOL https://t.co/A3sIbdWMjB

— IOCI Radio (@IOCIRADIO) May 20, 2023

* Center Square…

Illinois Democrats seek to allow noncitizens to be police officers in state

The bill originally passed the House without a single dissenting vote and has several Republican co-sponsors.

The bill was amended in the Senate, which allowed the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to move from opposed to neutral. It’s even backed by the Chicago FOP.

And the concurrence motion in the House passed tonight 100-7.

* Press release…

The Illinois Early Literacy Coalition celebrates the passage of SB2243 (Lightford/Mayfield), one of several bills in the ‘Literacy & Justice for All’ bill package. The bill was approved by the Illinois Senate earlier today and will soon be sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

“Teaching children to read is the most fundamental function of a public education system, and yet, every year, students are slipping through the cracks without mastering even basic literacy skills. Every child deserves the instruction and support that meets their needs to become a proficient reader. This initiative moves Illinois off the sidelines and into the action to fight for every student to have access to the literacy instruction they deserve,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D – Maywood).

Most states have taken on literacy reforms, but not all of those efforts have actually moved the needle on literacy outcomes. SB2243 directs the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to create a comprehensive, statewide literacy plan in collaboration with stakeholders by January 31, 2024. ISBE would also be charged with developing tools and supports for districts and educators, such as a curriculum rubric, district literacy plan template, and teacher training modules. Finally, the bill would add transparency around a language and literacy subscore to the licensure test for elementary teachers (grades 1–6).

* Isabel’s roundup…

* Cook County Record | IL gives up defending likely unconstitutional, politically motivated limits on judicial campaign contributions: Following that order, court documents indicate Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, also a Democrat and noted ally of the governor, opted not to appeal, and ultimately agreed not to continue to defend the law in court. A motion filed on May 17 indicates that concession was made as part of a deal, in which the plaintiffs agreed not to force the state to pay their legal bills for being forced to sue over the law.

* SJ-R | Not done yet: General Assembly continues past scheduled adjournment: Friday was the original adjournment day for the spring session, but with no budget introduced as of that morning and hundreds of bills still requiring final action, an extension is necessary. … Lawmakers have until May 31 to pass the budget before all bills passed would require a three-fifths constitutional majority with an immediate effective date.

* Crain’s | Legislature goes into overtime as lawmakers finalize budget — but other bills are moving: Another measure would allow individuals convicted of a felony to serve as an estate executor, allowing those not currently incarcerated to carry out the terms of a family member’s will. House Bill 1268 passed the House 80-34 Thursday after clearing the Senate on a 43-8 vote.

* WAND | Illinois lawmakers extend session for potential budget votes next week: House Republicans told reporters Friday night that they’re upset about the lack of time management from the majority party. … “Our budgeteers have been meeting throughout the budget process and the Leader and the budgeteers plan to continue conversations,” said Senate Republican Leader John Curran’s (R-Downers Grove) spokesperson Whitney Barnes.

* WQAD | Here’s what cleared through the Illinois General Assembly on Friday: Those include a requirement that schools teach a unit of Native American history and a bill allowing individuals convicted of a felony to serve as estate executors. Another measure would classify ride-share companies as “common carriers,” which would subject them to liability in cases of accident or injury, like other forms of public transportation.

* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ optional all-gender bathrooms bill heads to governor: Justin Sia, a Chicago attorney, testified in committee this week that he came up with the idea for the bill while in law school at Loyola University. He described it as “a pro-family, pro-business and pro-safety bill that permits, not mandates, public and private entities to install gender inclusive, multi-stall restrooms.”

* WIFR | ‘Zachary’s Parent Protection Act’ close to becoming an Illinois law: Zachary’s Parent Protection Act (SB2034), entitles up to six weeks of unpaid leave for small business employees and up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for employees of large businesses in the case of child loss. Currently, parents are only entitled to use up to 10 work days of unpaid bereavement leave.

* WCIA | Bipartisan proposal would give emergency crisis mapping data of schools to Illinois first responders: “Making sure the proper authorities have an up-to-date map and layout of the school would undoubtedly increase response times and action in times of emergencies when all of us know that every single second is precious,” State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said.

* Center Square | Measure to lift moratorium on nuclear power in Illinois one step away from Pritzker’s desk: Senate Bill 76, if concurred by the Senate and signed by Pritzker, would delete language in state statute that says no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant located within the state. The legislation also gives energy companies an option to invest in the construction of traditional, large nuclear reactors or new, small modular reactors.

* 25 News Now | Voting along party lines, State Senate approves CIRA tax change: The legislation creates a new property tax for McLean County landowners living outside Bloomington-Normal, while the property tax would be lowered for Twin Cities landowners. The chairman of the airport board said even with the change, the airport would collect the same amount of taxes.

* Center Square | Measure to protect children from social media ‘influencer’ parents passes Illinois Statehouse: The bill provides that a video blogger who features a minor child in 30% of their content shared on online platforms like YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, or others must set aside 15% of gross earnings on the video content in a trust account to be preserved for the benefit of the minor upon reaching 18 years old. The measure also would allow the child to request the deletion of the content upon turning 18.

* CBS Chicago | Illinois lawmakers pass bill making it easier to sue gun manufacturers: The legislation amends the state’s current Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to clarify that businesses in the firearms industry are subject to civil liability if they engage in unlawful business and marketing practices.

* Center Square | Illinois business, health care, tech groups denounce proposed changes to Biometric Information Privacy Act: During a news conference Friday, representatives from several groups, including the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce denounced a proposed change that was made late Thursday, the day before session was scheduled to adjourn. An amendment filed with House Bill 3811 includes a 50% increase in the minimum penalty businesses face for violating BIPA that can be awarded in future cases. The amendment remains in a Senate committee.