* G-PAC President Kathleen Sances…

When news broke this past week of a threat and subsequent lockdown at the state Capitol in Springfield, everyone’s minds went to the same chilling place: Is there a gunman? […]

The reality is that the fear that spread through the Capitol is the same fear we instill in our children, who are forced to be trained for active shooter drills before they can even read or write. Yes, these drills are for their protection, but there are far greater measures we can and should take to protect our children from being killed with a gun. Namely, pass laws that prevent gun violence.

Despite the great progress Illinois has made passing gun violence prevention legislation such as the ban on assault weapons and the requirement of universal background checks, we still have work to do. Guns are still the leading cause of death for children and teens in Illinois, and more than 1,600 people die from guns every year in our state.

Our legislators should think about their experience during the shelter-in-place order when it comes time to voting on legislation such as Karina’s Bill, which would make sure domestic abusers don’t have access to guns; a measure for secure gun storage to prevent access to guns by children and people at increased risk of harming themselves or others; and a bill that would hold straw purchasers accountable for “losing” guns in the illegal secondary market.

Our lawmakers should be running to the chamber to pass these bills, not wringing their hands waiting for the “right” time to take action.

* Rep. John Cabello’s HB4373 was assigned to the Executive Committee Thursday…

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Office of the Secretary of State shall install and maintain electronic monitoring devices at each entrance to the State Capitol Complex and shall install and maintain safety call boxes around the State Capitol Complex. Defines terms.

* Journal Courier…

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy spent months preparing to move to Illinois from Florida in the early 1990s. It was stressful but necessary because even then, she said, Florida laws governing health care were more restrictive than what was legally available in Illinois. […]

Cassidy’s House Bill 5152 would give a $500 tax credit to anyone who moves to Illinois to teach, get or provide health care, including abortion and gender-affirming care, from states with more restrictive laws regarding access to lawful health care. The bill is assigned to a subcommittee of the Revenue and Finance Committee. […]

“I’m not saying you have to come here and provide abortion care or provide gender-affirming care, because I am just as concerned about the emergency room physician who doesn’t want to have to watch a patient die,” she said.

The tax credit is something the state should want to do to make people feel welcome, Cassidy said, noting some of her siblings retired early from their jobs as teachers in Florida because they were tired of the restrictions placed on health care options.

* Shaw Local…

Don’t just complain about it, offer a solution.

That’s one baseline expectation for elected officials. Slightly up the ladder is making sure the proposed solution is practical and, more importantly, plausible. Practical in the sense of real-world implementation and plausible in terms of “can we get this through the legislature and signed by the governor?” […]

State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, filed the bill Jan. 30. As of Tuesday, it was assigned to the Health Care License Committee, concurrent with a House Republican press conference at which Hauter explained the intent. […]

Hauter’s proposal would change the Civil Administrative Code to give the IDFPR secretary power to expedite regular and temporary licenses in accordance with department rules. McCombie’s House Bill 4855 would require the department to accept online payments. Other GOP bills call for lowering licensure costs, streamlining out-of-state licenses and creating task forces to explore long-term solutions.

* One component of Governor Pritzker’s health insurance reforms is banning prior authorization requirements in-patient treatment at a psychiatric facility and “step therapy”. Here’s a New York Times opinion piece about how prior authorization can harm patients…

* WGEM…

A bill in the Illinois state Senate would require school districts to list learning materials, curriculum and activity details online.

Sponsored by state Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, the bill would require districts to update the information online every Jan. 1 and Aug. 1. […]

If the bill becomes law, each curriculum report would remain online until at least the time next year’s report would be posted.

* Carbon Herald…

Earlier this week Illinois Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea filed legislation that would set up a framework for the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the state.

Backed by industry organizations and unions, this effort is a fresh attempt at creating conditions for CCS to develop, following the retracted applications from Navigator CO2 Ventures and Wolf Carbon Solutions last year, with Navigator ultimately cancelling its 1,350-mile pipeline.

Senate Bill 3311 and House Bill 569, would create the Climate and Landowner Protection Act, aiming to provide clarity when it comes landowners’ rights for the pore space under private property and the exact responsibilities project developers would have when it comes to safety. […]

Both the ILFB and Sierra Club of Illinois point out the absence of provisions for the carbon capture pipelines that would have to be constructed underneath farmland with the latter also saying that the use of eminent domain should also be prohobited.