* Lee Enterprises’ Brenden Moore…

Click here for the full list.

* Center Square…

A much anticipated measure bringing changes to Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act is now law. Effective immediately, Senate Bill 2979 expands the definition of written release to include electronic signatures and would make multiple violations of BIPA a single violation if committed against one individual. Business groups sought such changes following several high-profile lawsuits against employers.

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, said Illinoisans biometric data will still be protected.

“But it adds much needed clarity that helps small businesses operate in a more predictable regulatory environment,” said Rashid when the measure passed. “I know that many small business owners will be relieved to see this measure pass.”

* WAND…

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a plan into law Friday to make major changes for the state’s name, image and likeness law for college athletes.

The new law will allow athletes to earn NIL compensation directly from their universities. Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) told WAND News in April that this will give universities a significant advantage for recruiting and retaining players.

This plan also blocks media and the public from requesting how much athletes make from their private NIL deals. […]

The legislation will also allow universities to create athletic department incentives for fans to support student athlete NIL activities. For example, fans could potentially get better parking or seats at an arena if they donate to NIL funds. […]

House Bill 307 will take effect on January 1.

* Sen. Cristina Castro…

Standing strong on the issue of safeguarding women’s health, State Senator Cristina Castro championed the effort to expand access to fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization through a measure signed into law Friday.

“Infertility affects millions of Americans, leaving thousands of hopeful parents in Illinois and across the United States unable to have a child on their own,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The possibility of starting a family through advanced treatments like IVF represents hope for so many of these individuals – and this law takes steps to protect and expand access for the thousands who rely on it.”

To address cost barriers that limit access to treatments like IVF for families across the state, the new law requires every group health insurance policy to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility starting Jan. 1, 2026. It also adds coverage for an annual menopause health visit for those age 45 and older. […]

Senate Bill 773 takes effect immediately.

* Sen. Mary Edly-Allen…

To unify the policies and procedures in jails and prisons in Illinois keeping new and expectant mothers safe. State Senator Mary Edly-Allen worked alongside the Women’s Justice Institute (WJII) to introduce a new law, HB5431, providing comprehensive protections for committed pregnant people, including banning the use of restraints. As the number of incarcerated pregnant women has increased over the years, many of these pregnancies have been left without adequate support. […]

According to the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, the negative impacts of restraints used during pregnancy are wide-ranging and detrimental. Restraints increase the risk of falls and injuries, can limit mobility, delay medical assessments during emergencies, increase the risk of blood clots, and interfere with labor, delivery and mother-infant bonding.

House Bill 5431 prohibits the use of restraints on pregnant and postpartum individuals in correctional facilities and requires supplemental nutrition for incarcerated individuals who are pregnant and breastfeeding. Further, to better understand the scope of pregnancy and care at jails and prisons, this legislation requires annual reporting on the number of pregnancies, births and miscarriages at each facility. […]

House Bill 5431 was signed into law Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

* SJ-R statehouse reporter Patrick Keck…

SB3134 went into effect immediately.

* Sen. Laura Fine…

To protect residents from abuse and neglect at state-run mental health or developmental disability facilities, State Senator Laura Fine championed a law strengthening the ability of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to investigate allegations.

“It is the state’s responsibility to protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Through on-site investigations, the OIG is able to confirm and respond to reports of abuse at these facilities, while removing the source of the issue before a pattern of neglect ensues.”

This law expands protections for patients by giving the OIG the ability to conduct targeted site visits to all community agencies in the state, which includes Community Living Arrangements and Community Mental Health Centers.

The law enhances patient safety by further preventing employees from covering up instances of abuse and neglect. If an employee knows another employee is obstructing an investigation into a complaint, that employee is required to report that to the OIG.

“By authorizing the OIG to step in to make unannounced site visits, we can deter both obstructions to the investigative process and increase employee accountability,” said Fine. “I look forward to seeing the state utilize these additional tools to respond to these cases effectively.”

Senate Bill 857 was signed into law Friday and is effective immediately.

* WAND…

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a proposal into law Friday to help families put leftover college savings funds into retirement plans.

Treasurer Michael Frerichs and state lawmakers told reporters in March that families who don’t use all of the money in their college savings accounts could put them into a Roth IRA. Frerichs noted that Congress approved a bill in late 2022 to allow tax and penalty free rollovers from college savings plans to retirement plans.

“People are going to be saving their own money into these accounts,” Frerichs said. “But if we don’t make it easier for people to save, if we don’t give them more incentives to save and they’re unable to retire, for young people entering the workforce, those are positions that won’t be available.” […]

The 2022 federal law states rollovers must be made by the 529 college savings account beneficiary and not the owner. Congress also noted that rollovers can only be made from 529 accounts that have been active for 15 years.

Senate Bill 3133 took effect immediately.

* Sen. Rachel Ventura…

With anxiety and stress increasing in schools, State Senator Rachel Ventura championed a new law aimed at easing the growing stress that students face in classrooms, prioritizing their physical and emotional well-being to enhance focus and reduce anxiety during school hours.

“Just as adults have a multitude of stressors, students also have the pressure to constantly and consistently perform above average. Our children deserve just a few minutes for themselves. Purposeful relaxation time will empower students to develop effective stress and anxiety management strategies,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “As both a parent and mental health advocate, I believe that allocating at least 20 minutes per week for students to unwind and prioritize their mental health will alleviate the constant pressure to engage in mental tasks, leading to improved academic performance.”

Senate Bill 2872 provides instruction for school districts on relaxation activities, such as mindful-based movements, yoga, stretching, meditation, breathing exercises, guided relaxation techniques, quiet time, walking, in-person conversation, and other stress-relieving activities, once a week for 20 minutes, in addition to recess, to enhance physical and emotional health.

The law allows a school district to partner with a local community-based organization to provide the activities. Additionally, if a school district wishes, the activities could take place in a physical education class, social-emotional learning class, student-support or advisory class, or as part of another class, including a new class, providing ample opportunities and flexibility for schools to adopt.

Statistics from the American Psychological Association show that 4.1 million children in the U.S. between the ages of 3 and 17 years old have been diagnosed with anxiety. In Illinois alone, 145,000 children between the ages of 12-17 have depression. […]

Senate Bill 2872 was signed into law Friday and is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

* Sen. Bill Cunningham…

State Senator Bill Cunningham’s measure to protect vehicle owners by updating towing regulations often abused by rogue towing companies was signed into law.

“We have residents getting a surprise $1,500 bill when all they’re trying to do is pick up a vehicle that was stolen from outside their residence,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This measure will stop towing companies from charging any storage fees on stolen vehicles and makes sure that a proper notification process is set up.”

The legislation was brought to Cunningham from a constituent of the 18th District. The constituent’s vehicle was stolen from outside their residence in Chicago and was eventually located by law enforcement and towed in Alsip. The constituent did not find out where their vehicle was located until a week after it was recovered, receiving a letter in the mail from a suburban towing company that was holding the vehicle. When the constituent went to recover the vehicle, they were told they would have to pay a fee of $1,500 and were not allowed to recover a hearing aid from the vehicle until the fee was paid.

Cunningham’s law adds medical devices and other items to the list of property that can be recovered from a towed vehicle without payment. Cunningham also discovered that there was an issue with the notification process when a vehicle is stolen and later towed. To address that issue, the measure requires towing companies to provide written notice to the vehicle’s owner within two days of towing. Additionally, if the owner recovers the vehicle within seven days, the towing company is prohibited from charging any storage fees. To streamline the notification process, the measure also requires law enforcement to give towing companies the name and mailing address of the vehicle owner when a tow is authorized. […]

Senate Bill 2654 was signed into law on Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.