* Rep. Anthony DeLuca filed HB4135 yesterday…

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may require a commercial solar energy facility to be sited 500 feet (rather than 50 feet) to the nearest point on the property line of a nonparticipating property and 500 feet (rather than 150 feet) from the nearest point on the outside wall of an occupied community building or dwelling on nonparticipating properties.

* Rep. Kevin Schmidt filed HB4134 last week…

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Adds maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers to the list of facilities that must accept a relinquished newborn infant in accordance with the Act. Expands the definition of “relinquish” to include bringing a newborn infant to a maternity home or pregnancy resource center or leaving an infant in a child rescue pod. Defines “maternity home”, “pregnancy resource center”, and “child pod”. Provides that after a newborn infant is relinquished to a maternity home or pregnancy resource center, the facility must arrange for the transportation of the infant to the nearest hospital as soon as transportation can be arranged. Provides that the act of relinquishing a newborn infant serves as implied consent for the hospital to which the infant is transported and that hospital’s medical personnel and physicians on staff to treat and provide care for the infant. Provides that if the parent of a newborn infant returns to the maternity home or pregnancy resource center to reclaim the infant within 72 hours after relinquishment, the maternity home or pregnancy resource center must inform the parent of the name or location of the hospital to which the infant was transported. Authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to adopt all necessary rules for the administration of the Act, including rules governing specifications, installation, maintenance, and oversight of child rescue pods.

* Rep. Sue Scherer’s HB4136…

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that, for the 2023-2024 school year, the school board of Decatur School District 61 may allow pupils to attend for less than the required minimum term of actual pupil attendance in an emergency if those pupils (i) receive an additional 2 clock hours of school work beyond the end of the scheduled school day for up to 25 days and (ii) receive the same total amount of clock hours of school work that they would have received if they had attended for the required minimum term. Defines “emergency”. Effective immediately.

* A bullying prevention bill from Rep. Margaret Croke…

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the provisions concerning bullying prevention apply to nonpublic, sectarian schools.

* HR405 from Rep. Joyce Mason…

Recognizes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 2023 and supports and commends the efforts of those people and organizations who work tirelessly to help victims break free of the devastating effects of domestic abuse.