* Rep. La Shawn Ford filed HB4161…

Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Hemp Act. Permits the wholesale and retail sale of cannabinoids, hemp concentrate, or any other intermediate hemp cannabinoid products. Provides that no person shall offer or sell cannabinoid products, particularly packaged hemp products, to consumers in the State unless the person applies for and holds a hemp retailer license issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that no person shall sell ready-to-eat hemp products to end consumers without applying for and holding a hemp food establishment license issued by the Department of Public Health. Provides that no person shall sell cannabinoid product to any person under the age of 21 unless the person is a medical cardholder registered under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may not limit the number of hemp farm licenses. Provides that no person shall cultivate or grow hemp for commercial purposes unless licensed by the Department of Agriculture and subject to the rules of the Department. Provides that hemp farms may not create hemp extractions without a processor license. Provides that hemp farms may not engage in retail sales without a hemp retailer license. Provides that hemp farms may not create hemp extractions without a processor license. Provides that hemp farms may not engage in retail sales without a hemp retailer license. Creates in the State treasury a special fund known as the Hemp Social Equity Fund. Provides that 25% of all moneys deposited into the Hemp Regulatory Fund shall be transferred into the Hemp Social Equity Fund. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2024, a tax is imposed upon purchases of all hemp cannabinoid products (hemp cannabinoid products for inhalation, hemp cannabinoid products for ingestion, and ready-to-eat hemp cannabinoid products) at a rate of 5% of the purchase price of the cannabinoid products. Defines terms. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the State Finance Act, Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the Illinois Noxious Weed Law, the Cannabis Control Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

The Sun-Times published an interesting article on how hemp could help Illinois go green. Click here to read it!

* Here’s another bill from Rep. Ford…

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that by January 1, 2024, the Department of Agriculture shall adopt emergency rules and begin accepting applications for the conversion of transporting organization licenses to third-party transporting organization licenses. Provides that there shall be no applicable fees for the conversion application process, and the Department shall process these applications and convert qualifying transporting organization licenses to third-party transporting organization licenses within 60 days after application submission. Provides that third-party transporting organizations are subject to the same standards and requirements for transporting organizations under the Act. Provides that a cultivation center, craft grower, infuser, or infuser agent shall not transport cannabis or cannabis-infused products and shall use third-party transporting organizations for all transports authorized under the Act, unless (1) the licensee possesses a transporting organization license, (2) the licensee requires delivery within 36 hours, and (3) the licensee has offered a right of first refusal to all third-party transporting organizations and confirmed there are no available third-party transporting organizations to complete the delivery. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

* HB676 may get a redo in veto…

On Thursday, October 12 at 10:00 AM, domestic violence and gun violence prevention advocates will hold a press conference in Chicago urging passage of Karina’s Bill, legislation that would strengthen state law to protect domestic violence survivors from firearms.

Karina’s Bill would require a firearm to be removed from a home when a survivor is granted an order of protection with the firearm remedy from a judge. Advocates hope to pass the bill during the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session beginning in late October, which is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The legislation is named in honor of Karina Gonzalez, who was shot and killed in July along with her 15-year-old daughter Daniela by Karina’s husband even though she was granted an order of protection that could have led to the removal of his firearm by law enforcement.

WHO: Expected speakers include:
State Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia)
Amanda Pyron, Executive Director, The Network
Yolanda Androzzo, Executive Director, One Aim Illinois
Maria Ruiz, Executive Director, Un Nuevo Despertar
Pastor Brenda Mitchell, State Chapter Co-Leader for Mom’s Demand Action in Illinois and a Fellow with the Everytown Survivor Network
John Bouman, Director, Legal Action Chicago

* G-PAC…

Today, the Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC) was joined by national gun safety organizations Brady United, GIFFORDS and Everytown in expressing support for Karina’s Bill, a new measure which would clarify and strengthen the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and the Firearm Restraining Order Act to require guns be removed when domestic violence survivors are granted firearm remedies in an order of protection. The groups are standing with The Network, a coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by gender-based violence, to call on lawmakers in Springfield to immediately pass this measure.

“Full stop: women and children deserve to live free from the threat of domestic violence,” said Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of G-PAC. “By passing Karina’s Bill, we will keep firearms out of the hands of abusers, save lives, and continue to send a message to the gun lobby that in our state public safety comes first. The time to act is now.”

The proposed legislation aims to address the alarming rates of gun-related domestic violence injuries and fatalities in Illinois, and prioritize the wellbeing of survivors. According to The Network, in 2022, there were 106 total domestic violence-related homicides in Illinois, with more than 60 taking place in Chicago alone. Additionally, last year witnessed an increase in domestic violence-related homicides, specifically those committed with a firearm.

What’s more, the risk of intimate partner homicide taking place increases by 500 percent when abusers have access to a gun, especially when survivors file an order of protection with the courts. In addition to having guns removed from a home once an order of protection is filed, Karina’s Bill would also add intimate partners as petitioners in the Firearm Restraining Orders Act and close a loophole that would otherwise allow transfer of firearm ownership instead of removal per a relevant order of protection.

“Karina Gonzalez and her daughter, Daniela, should still be here today. Gaps in our gun laws have robbed us of their lives and so many more. A perpetrator’s direct access to a gun during a domestic violence incident increases the likelihood of a female victim’s homicide compared to other acts of violence elevenfold. Right now, Illinois’ current protections are not enough to protect survivors from abuse and retaliation, and Karina’s bill updates these statutes to save lives. Brady is grateful to our domestic violence prevention partners for their work fighting for these vital changes, and we urge lawmakers to do the right thing and swiftly pass Karina’s Bill.” – Kris Brown, President of Brady

“When domestic abusers have access to guns, the effects can be and often are deadly – a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the woman will be killed. Domestic gun violence is a crisis, particularly for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native women, and Latinas, who experience the highest rates of intimate partner gun homicide,” said Pastor Brenda Mitchell, Survivor Fellow with the Everytown Survivor Network and Co-Lead of the Illinois Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As we mark domestic violence awareness month, we look forward to supporting Illinois lawmakers as they strengthen our state’s efforts to disarm domestic abusers and stop this deadly cycle of abuse”

“Closing loopholes that allow abusive partners to access firearms must be a top priority for Illinois lawmakers,” said Sean Holihan, GIFFORDS State Legislative Director. “When it comes to the safety of women and children in abusive homes, every second counts. It’s common sense: People under domestic violence restraining orders should not be able to own a gun. Lawmakers in Springfield must pass Karina’s Bill swiftly.”

* Rep. Margaret Croke’s HB4156…

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Chicago Children’s Museum for its Museum for All program. Effective July 1, 2024.

* Rep. Maurice West filed HB4162 yesterday…

Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act or any other Illinois statute (rather than except as otherwise provided in the Act), a quorum of members of a public body must be physically present at the location of an open meeting or present by video or audio conference at the open meeting (now, members must be physically present at the meeting). Provides that a member is present by video or audio conference at an open meeting if the member can hear and be heard by all other members of the body who are participating in the meeting. Specifies that, if a member wishes to attend a meeting by video or audio conference, the member must notify the recording secretary or clerk of the public body before the meeting, unless providing that advance notice is impractical for the member. Repeals existing provisions concerning the participation of public body members in open meetings by video conference or other means.