* WGEM…

Lawmakers joined leaders from organizations serving people with developmental disabilities at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday to rally against eliminating the subminimum wage for people with disabilities.

Known as the Dignity in Pay Act, HB 793 would require people with disabilities less than the minimum wage paid to everyone else beginning in 2027.

People who oppose the legislation said it will force organizations providing services and jobs to people with disabilities to lay them off or potentially close.

“Without a well-constructed, well-developed plan, the people who HB 793 is intended to benefit would likely experience unnecessary hardships,” said Doug McDonald, the CEO of Sparc, a Springfield-based organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

* Center Square…

State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said under federal law there’s a waiver for minimum wage because the productivity of someone with certain disabilities isn’t the same as someone who has full-cognitive abilities.

“It’s neat to see how happy these people are to get their paycheck. They made their contribution to society at the level they are able to contribute. Who wouldn’t in a perfect world want to do this [mandate at least minimum wage for disabled adults]? But the reality is, you’re going to put these people out of work,” said Rose. […]

“They are calling it the Dignity in Pay Act, and I am here to counter that narrative,” [state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville] said in October. “The bill is not agreed, as Charlie [Meier] pointed out when 33 out of 35 providers are not in agreement, that is not agreed.” […]

“It feels like they’re saying there’s only two options: ‘Sub-minimum wage or no job.’ It’s not true. The research has shown, nationwide, that we can phase this out. I was talking with a small town mayor in Alaska, which has phased it out. He was the lead sponsor on this bill and they found a lot of success with customized employment in their small town,” said [Nicholas Boyle, an economic justice policy analyst with Access Living]. “Other places can do it, I don’t see why Illinois can’t.”

* Sen. Michael Hastings…

Senate Bill 3538 would require any self-insured county or municipality that provides health insurance coverage to first responders to include mental health counseling coverage without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on patients.

“First Responders” are classified as any police, corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel that are employed by local government entities, which would include counties and townships. […]

Senate Bill 3538 passed the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

* SJ-R…

Through Senate Bill 2705, the sale and distribution of products such as carpets, cookware, food packaging and more containing intentionally added PFAS would no longer be allowed starting next year. By 2032, all products with PFAS, unless it is proven it cannot be made without it, would be banned.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture would also have to approve bans of pesticide, fertilizer, agricultural liming material, plant amendment, or soil containing them.

State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, is leading the bill currently awaiting committee assignment. The intent behind the bill, she said is not to burden manufacturers but instead to produce environmentally-friendly products that are more cost-effective. […]

Lawmakers are also weighing legislation that would require manufacturers of intentionally added PFAS to register their products with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Opponents, such as the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, have said identifying these products would be challenging and implementation would be costly.

* Sen. Robert Peters…

State Senator Robert Peters advanced legislation Wednesday to ban employers from requiring workers to attend meetings regarding political or religious matters. […]

Senate Bill 3649 will prohibit Illinois employers from requiring employees to attend employer-sponsored meetings where the primary purpose is to communicate the employer’s opinions on religious or political matters. Further, the legislation safeguards employees from adverse actions for refusing such employer-sponsored meetings.

The National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel issued a memorandum outlining a plan to advocate for mandatory meetings concerning union representation, political opinions and religious matters unlawful under federal labor law. There has been no action following the memorandum, which was issued in 2022. […]

Senate Bill 3649 passed the Senate Labor Committee and now awaits further consideration in the Senate.

* WAND…

Illinois lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to ensure school vendors and learning partners follow the state’s new comprehensive literacy plan.

House Democrats want vendors responsible for English language arts improvement plans to abide by the historic Literacy and Justice For All Act.

The Illinois State Board of Education introduced the framework for the literacy plan in January. However, this bill could ensure schools are not limited by their vendors. […]

The proposal passed out of the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee on a 11-2 vote. House Bill 4902 now heads to the House floor for further consideration.

* Sen. Dave Koehler…

enate Bill 3077 would create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. This measure would require the Illinois Department of Agriculture to amplify local food processing, collection and distribution within the state through grants. Eligible applicants would include farms, co-ops, process facilities, food businesses and hubs with fewer than 50 employees, as well as Illinois nonprofit organizations and local governments.

Koehler’s bill creates a two-tiered grant system for both individual and collaborative projects. Individual projects may receive grants between $1,000 and $75,000, where collaborative projects may be awarded $1,000 up to $250,000. These grants may be used toward production, grading and packaging equipment, as well as refrigerated trucks, milling equipment, local fish processing and milk processing.

According to the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, a 10% shift in the average grocery budget toward local food purchasing could generate billions in economic growth for the state. By incentivizing the expansion and collaboration of local food providers, Senate Bill 3077 will reinforce Illinois’ food industry, grow local economies and provide access to locally sourced food to residents across the state. […]

Senate Bill 3077 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday and now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

* Sen. Seth Lewis…

With 25 students from the Prairie School of DuPage in the committee room with him to help lobby for his bill, State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) received unanimous recommended approval from the Senate’s State Government Committee on Wednesday for legislation that designates the Calvatia Gigantea as the official state mushroom.

As the bill was presented, committee members learned that 174 witness slips in favor of the bill had been properly filed by students, parents, and others in support of Senate Bill 3514.

“I visited with these students at their school in Wheaton several weeks ago, and they told me they wanted Illinois to adopt a new symbol,” said Lewis. “They engaged in a great deal of research, and asked me to file a bill to make the Calvatia Gigantea, or “Gigantic Puffball” the official state mushroom. I filed Senate Bill 3514 on their behalf on February 9.”

Upper Elementary Teacher Erin Hemmer testified before the committee and explained that students compiled research and held a “primary” election that brought the list of mushroom choices down to two, and then the students made campaign signs for their favored choice prior to a “general” election to determine the winner. “They entered this process with wonder and passion,” said Hemmer. “I am very proud of them.”

Upper Elementary student Charlotte DiGangi also testified on the bill and said the idea for a state mushroom came from a question she asked during a classroom discussion on state symbols. “We were talking about all of the different state symbols and I asked if there was a state mushroom,” said DiGangi. “I said we should have a state mushroom and now here we are.”

The Prairie School of DuPage is a private, environmentally-focused school that offers K-8 students a progressive, hands-on education.

“This was a priceless lesson in the value of civic engagement and sends a message to these students that even at a young age their voice can be heard and that they can influence change,” added Lewis. “It was an honor to partner with them on this legislation, and look forward to their continued assistance as we bring this bill across the finish line.”