* Or, in this case, a resolution. Tribune…

A group of aldermen are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to replace embattled Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter.

Nineteen aldermen, including several progressive Johnson allies and other more conservative aldermen, have so far signed onto the resolution that also calls for Carter to resign, according to lead co-sponsor Ald. Matt Martin, 47th. Though nonbinding, it’s the sharpest City Hall rebuke of Carter yet as the leader’s CTA continues to struggle with hiring, service cuts, lagging ridership and a looming financial cliff.

* Sports Betting News…

The Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition representing BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook, is warning Illinois customers that a proposed tax rate increase in the state will seriously affect how they participate in sports betting.

If a proposed sports betting tax rate increase to 35%, up from 15%, in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) state budget is approved, customers will be hit with fewer promotions and worse odds from operators that are already struggling in the state, a Sports Betting Alliance spokesperson told Sports Betting Dime.

The alliance has been encouraging Illinois sports betting customers to reach out to their constituents to oppose the bill. More than 35,000 emails have been sent in opposition so far, said Nathan Click, Sports Betting Alliance spokesperson. […]

“From the consumer side, a 133% tax rate increase will mean worse odds and few, if any, promotions. It means less left for companies to invest in technology upgrades, responsible gaming efforts and their customer support teams. It’s also a subsidy to bookies and illegal market: Legal operators have just started to make serious inroads into Illinois’ robust illegal sports betting market. Worse odds, no promotions, worse product all give the offshore illegal market apps (who pay no tax) a massive leg up when competing for customers,” [Sports Betting Alliance spokesperson Nathan Click] said.

* Majority Leader Lightford…

Parents across the state continue to receive the call no one wants to receive: the call that their child has consumed delta-8 THC and is being transported to the hospital. Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is spearheading a measure to regulate these pervasive, unlicensed products.

“We are working diligently to protect consumers of all ages, help our cannabis industry flourish, keep the promise to our social equity communities, and not stifle reputable hemp business establishments,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Effective regulation is about safeguarding public health and fostering a sustainable, trustworthy market.”

A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that more than 11% of high school seniors report using delta-8. In response, Lightford is sponsoring Senate Bill 776 to regulate hemp derived THC, including delta-8 products.

The regulation of hemp derived THC products would be similar to how the state regulates cannabis as it relates to taxing, testing, advertisement and more. While the possession limits would be the same as cannabis, limits would be cumulative with the possession limits of cannabis. Therefore, people could not possess more than 500 milligrams of cannabis or hemp concentrate-derived THC products.

Under the Lightford-led measure, businesses making the products would be required to follow the same guidelines as those within the cannabis industry. Any person working with hemp in a non-intoxicating form would simply be required to register their business and pay a $100 fee.

To ensure equality and fairness, only Social Equity Dispensaries – those that are owned by underrepresented individuals or disproportionally affected groups – would be able to sell these products until July 1, 2026. After that, more businesses could sell hemp concentrate-derived products. The transition is similar to the privilege given to medical dispensaries during the first few years of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

“The current unregulated market undermines social equity license holders who have long worked to establish a legal, well-regulated business,” said Lightford. “As we move toward regulation of hemp and delta-8 products, we must ensure we do so in a way that is equitable and provides opportunities within the evolving industry.”

Senate Bill 776 awaits committee assignment.

* Capitol News Illinois…

With two weeks left before the General Assembly’s spring session is set to adjourn, negotiations continue on a labor union-backed initiative that would allow Illinoisans to skip religious and political work meetings without reprimand.

Dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” Senate Bill 3649 advanced out of the Senate on May 2 with only Democratic support.

The Illinois AFL-CIO labor organization brought the measure to Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, in an effort to ban what the unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience meetings” pertaining to religion and politics. Labor advocates say the meetings give employers an opportunity to coerce employees to listen to anti-union rhetoric.

Employers found breaking the law would have to pay $1,000 per violation and provide relief to the wronged employee as the court dictates, which could involve paying owed wages and reinstating their position. […]

Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, a union ally and chair of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, is the measure’s House sponsor. He said he believes there is enough support for it to pass in the final two weeks – although a minor amendment could be forthcoming.

* Sen. Simmons…

To protect patients from unnecessary medical bills, State Senator Mike Simmons passed legislation out of the Senate on Thursday that would prohibit hospitals from billing a patient who cannot pay.

“When folks get hospital bills that don’t make sense and shouldn’t have been billed to begin with, it erodes confidence in the healthcare system writ large and leaves people afraid to seek care,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “That is entirely unnecessary and this bill will ensure those folks can get to the doctor without worrying about getting a bunch of bills they cannot afford to pay.”

Senate Bill 2442 prohibits hospitals from directly billing a patient who has a household income at or below the 200% federal poverty line, that qualifies them for free care. Last year, Simmons supported the passing of a new law that requires hospitals to proactively screen for and enroll patients in Medicaid, health insurance and financial assistance beginning July 1.

“Healthcare costs should never be the reason people forgo care. Nor should anyone live in fear of sudden sticker shock from unexpected medical bills arriving in the mail,” said Simmons. “When that happens it represents a systemic barrier to accessing healthcare, which leads to untreated medical conditions and premature death for too many of our family members, neighbors and friends.”

Several constituents in Simmons’ district with low or no income have expressed stress and fear from receiving bills from hospitals and healthcare facilities despite demonstrating a lack of income. This legislation is an example of constituent-led policy, a hallmark of Simmons’ office, and will prohibit hospitals from billing patients who do not have the income to pay.

“No individual or family should be forced to decide between eating or paying hospital bills,” said Simmons. “This critical additional step is designed to protect healthcare consumers from unfair billing practices and abusive collection tactics. It will ultimately save lives, and lead to healthier households and communities.”

Senate Bill 2442 now heads to the House for further consideration.

* Leader Hammond…

Legislation filed by State Representative Norine Hammond to assist local road districts with funding challenges was unanimously passed by the Illinois House last month.

House Bill 5190 provides that the allocation to road districts shall be made in the same manner and be subject to the same conditions and qualifications as are provided by current law concerning the allocation to road districts of the amount allotted from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund for apportionment to counties for the use of road districts. It further provides that any funds allocated to a county that are not obligated within 48 months shall be considered lapsed funds and reappropriated in the same fund. The lapsed funds shall be used to provide additional monetary assistance to townships and road districts that have insufficient funding for the construction of bridges that are 20 feet or more in length.

Hammond’s legislation is an initiative of the Illinois Association of County Engineers.

“My legislation addresses the funding challenges that local road districts have had concerning maintaining roads and bridges by updating the current funding formula for local road districts,” said Rep. Hammond. “I’m grateful to the Illinois Association of County Engineers for working with me on this issue and I thank my House colleagues for their unanimous support.”

House Bill 5190 passed the Illinois House on a vote of 114-0-0 and now goes to the Illinois Senate for further consideration.

* Press release…

Advocates for healthy Illinois farm fields are uniting again this spring to urge legislators to provide more support for farmers’ use of cover crops to protect our soils and water supplies.

Environmental advocates and experts are teaming up with Illinois farming organizations to push for $3.1 million in new state funding to support expansion of the highly popular Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program (FCSS), as state legislators debate and formulate Illinois’ next state budget.

The FCSS gives farmers whose applications are accepted a $5-an-acre subsidy on their next year’s crop insurance for every acre of cover crops they plant. These crops are proven to help prevent environmentally and economically damaging soil erosion and other climate and weather challenges. Unlike other similar programs, the more cover crops farmers plant over the years, the more benefit they yield.

Many Illinois farmers have voluntarily embraced this program, giving landowners the flexibility they need to make the best choices for their fields and farm operations to maximize their production and conservation efforts. The main challenge is that the program’s popularity far exceeds the funds available to meet the demand.

In Fiscal Year 2020-2021, 50,000 acres of cover crop benefit were provided under a $300,000 state budget amount. For the 2022-2024 Fiscal Years, the program was more than doubled to a $660,000 budget and 100,000 acres. But in all cases, immediate demand caused all the money to go almost as quickly as the program was opened for applications.

Now, advocates say the time is right to expand the program to provide the incentives for 500,000 acres of eligible land, at a $3.1 million program cost. They expect that will allow 400,000 more acres to take advantage of the powerful benefits of cover crops, including the removal of carbon dioxide that equates to more than 37,000 vehicles off Illinois roads each year, nearly 1,000 rail cars burning coal, and more than 21,000 homes’ energy use.

Cover crops also help build land resistance to floods, reduce the risk that drought causes crop yield losses, improve soil and water quality, and improve farmers’ long-term return on their investment.

The cover crop increased funding proposal is included in Senate Bill 3814 sponsored by Sen. Patrick Joyce, and House Bill 5757 sponsored by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr. Both bills have strong bipartisan support in the Legislature and are expected to be considered in the upcoming budget discussions.