* Sun-Times…

Legislation banning long-term and costly real estate listing agreements — like those peddled in Illinois by M.V. Realty, a Florida company — has been passed in the state House and Senate and now needs only Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature to become law.

The bill, SB3420, passed in May, would make it illegal for people or companies to enter unfair listing agreements with homeowners. Real estate listing agreements would be prohibited if they ran more than a year into the future. And any agreements could not bind future owners of a property.

Violators could be prosecuted under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

For homeowners who’ve already signed an agreement, the legislation would provide a way out. Homeowners would be able to ask a judge to void the agreement, making it unenforceable.

* WTTW…

Transgender Illinois residents may soon have a path to change birth certificates that were issued in other states.

That’s if Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs a bill recently passed by state lawmakers.

The bill allows Illinois residents to get a judicial order to alter the name and sex on birth certificates and other documentation issued in another state.

Currently in Illinois, the process no longer requires certification from a health professional, making it easier to request this change.

Mike Ziri, director of public policy for Equality Illinois, said supporters hope the bill will clear up some confusion over who has the authority to provide these court orders.

* Center Square…

More than 300,000 Illinois residents stand to be cleared of all outstanding medical debt through the creation of the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program Fund ready to be sent to the governor.

Sponsored by state Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, House Bill 5290 seeks to alleviate medical debt for families across the state residing in households with individuals falling below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level or saddled with medical debt equating to 5% or more of their household income.

“It makes people afraid to go to the doctor, afraid to follow up on chronic illnesses that need consistent care when people are getting all kinds of bills every time they go to the hospital that they will never be able to pay,” Simmons told The Center Square.

If approved by the governor, the five-year pilot program will work with a nonprofit to use $10 million to pay off up to $1 billion in medical debt.

* AG Update…

Legislation that creates a state regulatory framework for carbon capture and storage projects, plus a moratorium on pipeline construction, is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.

The Illinois Farm Bureau supported this legislation for ethanol and biofuel facilitation but not at the expense of private property rights or farmland easements without adequate compensation, Davis said.

The issue largely centers around the forced acquisition of pore space from the 25% of impacted landowners who do not agree to terms with the company seeking to sequester carbon. Though the bill calls for “just compensation” to be provided, many lawmakers believed the provision to not be strong enough. […]

The legislation does put a pause on carbon pipeline projects until after the federal government adopts final revisions to its pipeline safety rules or July 1, 2026, whichever comes first. On top of required federal permits, companies would also need to obtain a permit for sequestration from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

* Sun-Times…

My wife and I could’ve never guessed a blood test would send our world crashing into a fatal diagnosis for our sweet 2-year-old.

Andrew has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, degenerative genetic condition that affects 1 in every 5,000 babies, predominantly boys. Duchenne results in wheelchair use by preteen years and death by early adulthood. […]

I don’t want another family to endure the same life-altering recalibration years after their sons are born. They shouldn’t have to wait, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker can make that a reality. Late last month, both houses of the General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 2658, which will add Duchenne to the state’s newborn screening requirements. Sen. Julie Morrison and a group of bipartisan lawmakers led the way.

Now, it’s headed to the governor’s desk. This law would give all Illinois babies with Duchenne a chance at active lives.