* NBC Chicago…

The proposed legislation, SB3499, would create end-of-life options for the Terminally Ill Patients Act in Illinois.

Under the bill, which was introduced last week, a qualified patient with a terminal disease would be allowed to request that a physician prescribe them “aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient’s life in a peaceful manner,” the legislation states.

Requirements would include a patient needing to make two verbal requests to a qualified physician within five days of each other, along with one written request. Such requests can only be made by the patient, not by a surrogate decision-maker or health care proxy, according to the bill. […]

There would also be a series of qualifications for a patient to be considered eligible for the prescription, including being 18 years or older, an Illinois resident with a terminal diagnosis and six-month-or-less prognosis, and what a physician deems to be the mental capacity to make such a decision.

* Oops, the bill was filed by Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park). H/T Chicagobars…

* SJ-R…

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, filed House Bill 5152 which would provide a $500 tax credit for patients, their parents or guardians and health care providers starting this tax year. The same credit would be available for those seeking gender-affirming care and teachers that have moved due to educational content restrictions in their home states.

The bill is of personal importance to Cassidy, originally from Florida, where her sibling teachers have retired as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has led instruction bans on sexual orientation, gender identity and critical race theory.

“This is very much meant to provide a warm handoff for folks who have made incredibly unwelcome in their homes,” she said in an interview Monday.

Currently in the House Rules Committee, proving individuals did in-fact relocate to Illinois for these healthcare services or issues with classroom curriculum would likely be administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Cassidy said the process would be similar to an affidavit, where teachers would have to provide evidence that they moved from a “state that is restricting speech.”

* WGEM…

- A proposed Illinois Bill aims to repeal the Rent Control Preemption Act and allow rent control.

Quincy Housing Executive Director Jerry Gille said bills like this have been introduced before and failed, but this time it comes out at the right time to gain momentum amidst high rents and inflating prices.

He said during and following the pandemic, rent prices increased due to inflation, which pushed a lot of people out of the private market and into public housing. He said they’ve heard from clients that the private market has leveled off locally in the last three years, though rent prices have leveled off now. […]

Managing Broker for Farlow Real-Estate Experts Jeremy Farlow said for people investing in properties to rent, it would mean they wouldn’t be able to make a profit off the property or pay the mortgage of the property.

He said that could mean less money available for landlords to pay for repairs on properties, as they are the ones who pay for maintenance for tenants.

* The Coalition for Fantasy Sports…

Today, the Coalition for Fantasy Sports announced its support for Illinois Senate Bill 3710 House Bill 5648 aimed at providing a robust regulatory framework for daily fantasy sports (DFS) within the state. While Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019, the state lacked comprehensive legislation to protect the thousands of fans and the games of skill they enjoy. This proposed framework would close an essential chapter in the effort to safeguard fantasy sports fans throughout Illinois.

The proposed legislation aims to not only protect the hundreds of thousands of fantasy sports fans across Illinois but also the integrity of the games they enjoy. The framework would ensure legal clarity, responsible play, and consumer protection while promoting innovation and removing barriers to growth that threaten the fantasy sports industry. Among the bill’s provisions includes an age gate requiring players to be at least 19.

“With the popularity of daily fantasy sports soaring, now is the time to codify the industry’s legal status into state law and ensure Illinois players are best protected,” said Chief Senate Bill Sponsor Lakesia Collins. “That is why I’m incredibly excited to take the lead on legislation that would not only allow sports fans to continue playing the daily fantasy contests they love, but do so in a way that protects their best interests, puts up guardrails to keep bad actors out of the market, and generates potentially tens of millions in new tax revenue for Illinois.”

House Bill Sponsor, Representative Eva-Dina Delgado, further emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity, “Our goal is to provide a secure environment for fantasy sports fans across the state of Illinois. This legislation is a positive step toward ensuring that fantasy sports enthusiasts can continue participating in these contests with confidence.”

* Play USA…

Illinois Rep. Daniel Didech has submitted a bill (HB 5307) to amend the state’s gambling legislation to include guidelines for creating and maintaining a Problem Gambling Task Force that would “provide recommendations to the General Assembly on how the State should continue to meet its responsibility to assist those who suffer from a gambling problem or disorder,” the bill reads.

The bill calls for a 10-member task force made up of one member each from the two largest causes in the Illinois House, along with one member from the following fields and organizations:

Health care industry
Department of Public Health
Illinois Gaming Board
Department of the Lottery
Illinois Racing Board
A nonprofit organization with “experience in problem gambling treatment and recovery services”
Business or organization with a gaming license

The bill also calls for one of the task force members to be someone who has been impacted by problem gambling or a gambling disorder.