* Capitol News Illinois…

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Illinois appears likely to join most of the rest of the country in requiring that the state’s Electoral College votes go to the winner of the state’s popular election.

The measure is part of a broad package of election-related legislation which also includes a provision loosening restrictions on what political parties can do with campaign funds and a state-level response to a controversy in the south suburbs.

The entire package was approved 51-3 in the Senate, with three Senators voting present. The House was more divided, passing the measure 68-38. The bill now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker for final approval before becoming law. […]

The bill would require the state’s electors to take a new pledge prior to appearing on the ballot. Failing to honor the pledge under the proposal would result in them being removed from their position and replaced with an alternate elector.

* Tribune…

The Illinois legislature has passed a bill that would require more health care facilities to report allegations of patient abuse to the state — a measure that follows a Tribune investigation into the issue.

Under the bill, doctors’ offices and clinics affiliated with hospitals would have to report allegations of patient abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health, triggering an investigation by the state. Now, hospitals must only report allegations that happen at hospitals.

The House unanimously passed the bill Tuesday night. The Senate also previously passed the bill unanimously. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature. […]

The bill comes several months after a Tribune investigation found that well-known health systems allowed workers accused of sexually abusing patients to continue providing care, and, in some cases, those same health care workers were then accused of abusing additional patients.

* Chalkbeat…

The state’s General Assembly also passed a state child tax credit, which would make Illinois one of more than a dozen states to approve such legislation in the wake of the COVID pandemic, when the federal government temporarily expanded the benefit. Low-income Illinois families with children under the age of 12 and those who qualify for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit would be eligible to receive the credit in 2025.

This version of the state’s child tax credit expands on what Pritzker proposed in February when he pitched a tax credit for families with young children who are 3 or younger.

Starting in July 2021, families across the country received up to $300 for children 17 or younger as part of the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan. The program, which lapsed in December 2021, was credited with reducing child poverty and hunger. States including Colorado, California, and New York have since created their own child tax credit.

“The truth is that we all think that education should be better funded,” said Pritzker, when asked about Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who made a trip to Springfield to ask for more education funding for the city’s schools.

* Rebuild Local News…

The State Legislature’s budget provisions support local news through employment tax credits, a 120-day delay on selling local newspapers to out-of-state buyers, and a scholarship program for in-state journalists

As part of its budget, the Illinois legislature included several proposals to help revive local news in the state, which has seen a staggering 85% drop in the number of reporters since 2005.

The provisions, sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman, include:

- $25 million commitment in employment tax credits to newsrooms that hire or retain local reporters—$5 million over 5 years
- Newsrooms get $15,000 per current reporter and $25,000 per new hire
There’s a $150,000 limit on how much a given newsroom can get, a $250,000 for how many a given corporation can get
Available to for-profit and nonprofit news organizations with at least one full-time local reporter
- The legislature also approved a separate bill that included Sen. Stadelman’s innovative proposal requiring that any newspaper in Illinois that intends to sell itself to an out-of-state company must give the community and its employees 120-day notice, so that the community can consider organizing an acquisition bid. - This is the first “replanting” provision enacted into law in the United States.

The bill also authorized the state to create a scholarship program for journalists who went to Illinois colleges and universities and are working in Illinois newsrooms. The exact amounts are still to be determined. The bill awaits the governor’s signature, which is expected soon. This is also a first.

* WTVO…

— Illinois legislators passed the Pretrial Success Act as part of the state budget this week, a program designed to support people accused of crimes as they await trial.

The state of Illinois abolished the cash bail system last year. Under the current law, if a suspect is arrested and brought to jail, judges have 48 hours to determine if they pose a “real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community.” If a judge decides, the suspect can be released as they await their trial. […]

The Pretrial Success Act offers grant opportunities to organizations that provide mental health, substance abuse disorder assessment, case management, and treatment, and will also make transportation and child care funding available so that a suspect is able to appear in court.

“By increasing access to services, The Pretrial Success Act will improve community safety and court appearance rates,” said Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford). “These resources will help people minimize future contact with the legal system by addressing underlying challenges that may have brought someone into contact with law enforcement. By reforming our pretrial system, we are building safer communities.”

* Taylorville Daily News…

The Illinois Senate has passed House Bill 4439, which designates the soybean as the official state bean. State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) hails this as a significant designation, noting Decatur, Illinois, as the “soybean capital of the world” and emphasizing the economic impact and job creation associated with the soybean industry.

Illinois leads the nation in soybean production, contributing 15% of all U.S. soybeans, according to the Illinois Farm Bureau. The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate. Illinois Soybean Association Chairman Ron Kindred praised the move, recognizing its alignment with the 60th anniversary of the association and the state’s prominent role in agriculture.

* Sen. Karina Villa…

A measure championed by State Senator Karina Villa that would ensure people whose primary language is not English have access to essential state services is one step closer to becoming law.

“State agencies are here to serve everyone,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Our state is home to hundreds of diverse communities that deserve to be adequately represented in state functions.”

Senate Bill 3762 would require the Governor’s Office of New Americans, alongside relevant agencies and the Illinois Department of Human Services, to prepare a language needs assessment to identify languages spoken across the state. This partnership would then support state agencies in the development of language accessibility plans to provide comprehensive language assistance for access to information, programs, services and activities.

“We must ensure all communities benefit equally and equitably from state resources, and language access is necessary to do so,” said Villa. “This initiative will address a need for thousands of people across our state.”

Senate Bill 3762 passed the House on Thursday and now heads to the governor for further consideration.