It’s just a bill
Thursday, Feb 20, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* State Journal-Register…
An Illinois lawmaker has proposed a bill that would help teachers to pay for school supplies.
Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, introduced House Bill 3008 earlier this month that would provide teachers with a Classroom Supply Assistance Card that would purchase a list of pre-approved items. […]
The bill proposed would provide teachers throughout the state, each school quarter with funds according to a “needs-based formula, taking into account school district funding” among other factors, according to the text of the bill.
Over 90% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies, according to the National Education Association, the largest teachers union in the country, according to a 2022 report from the organization.
* Sen. Chris Belt…
State Senator Christopher Belt introduced a new measure to alleviate some costs for new mothers in Illinois by requiring all health insurance plans to cover car seats and cribs.
“New moms are shelling out a couple hundred bucks to purchase cribs and car seats, which is essentially a hidden tax on becoming a parent,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Every mother in our state should be afforded the luxury of keeping their child safe in their home and on the road.”
Currently, there are a few programs in Illinois that provide assistance for expecting mothers to get a car seat or crib, but navigating these programs can be difficult because every insurance company has a different policy. Belt’s measure would ensure every Illinois mom that has insurance, whether private, through the state or Medicaid, has access to a car seat and crib after birth. Insurance companies would need to reimburse new mothers for the purchase of an approved car seat or crib or provide a car seat and crib directly to them.
“We hear a lot of talk about supporting women and children, and this is an opportunity to actually do that,” Said Belt. “I look forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans, who care about Illinois families, to move this measure forward.”
Senate Bill 1687 awaits committee assignment.
* Shaw Local…
Lobbyist Matt Hughes of MRH Solutions has filed two state bills as part of his strategy to secure a designation that, if approved, could provide millions of dollars in additional funding for city development in Sterling.
Hughes told the Sterling City Council on Tuesday that he has filed Senate Bill 1309 and House Bill 1919 to help secure a River Edge Redevelopment Zone designation. However, he said the legislative process would not fully get underway until after Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his 2025 budget address Wednesday. […]
Hughes said the bills must be out of committee in both the House and Senate by Friday, March 21, and must pass both chambers by Friday, April 11. He said the city of Alton also has been added to the legislation per recommendations from Rep. Maurice West.
The River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act is legislation encouraging economic growth through redevelopment and revitalization projects that are typically in areas along waterfronts. RERZ provides tax incentives for investors and municipalities. If approved, it could provide almost $50 million in tax incentives through the riverfront work the city already has started.
* WTVO…
A new bill would allow Illinois community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields.
Senate Bill 2483 and House Bill 3717, announced by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during his annual State of the State budget address on Wednesday, would expand access to higher education options for the state’s growing workforce. […]
Colleges would be able to offer degrees for “in-demand” fields such as nursing, advanced manufacturing, and early childhood education. […]
The proposed legislation builds on the success of similar programs in 24 other states, including California, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, and Florida, where Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs have increased degree attainment in key industries.
* Sen. Sue Rezin added Sen. Bill Cunningham as a Chief Co-Sponsor to SB1527 yesterday…
* CBS Sports…
CBS Sports has obtained a draft version of a bill which is expected to be filed soon in the Illinois house of representatives that means the state joins Alabama and Georgia in exempting NIL money earned by college athletes from state income tax.
The bill, sponsored by state representative Travis Weaver (who graduated from the University of Alabama as an undergrad), is an amendment to the state’s tax code and as currently written would begin in tax year 2027.
“The nice thing about this is it’s not existing revenue, which I think makes it a lot easier,” Weaver said. “It’s hard to cut a tax when it’s something that you have been collecting and it’s baked into your budget, whereas this, we’ve never been taxing, NIL [income], not to mention that there hasn’t really been any, right? I mean, this is just such a wild, wild west.”
Thirteen in-state schools play Division I men’s and women’s college basketball, while three (Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Northwestern) play FBS football. Weaver points to the knock-on effects of increasing the competitiveness of in-state school as something that has the potential to dwarf whatever tax revenue is missed out on by making athletes exempt from the 4.95% state income tax rate. He also cited enrollment increases that come when sports programs win as an added benefit.
- Center Drift - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 9:52 am:
So students want to be compensated for their work and image because it’s fair. But now a legislator wants disparate treatment for them with regard to income tax? This is yet another reason why we have such lousy government in Illinois, someone is always working a deal for a favored group.
- Steve - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 9:56 am:
Illinois is a state committed to public education. Per pupil in most districts is pretty darn good. How sad, that teachers need to put money out of their pocket for supplies. You’d think the per pupil spending would cover all of this.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:11 am:
SB1527
=Removes provisions prohibiting the construction of new nuclear power reactors with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity to be located within the State until the Illinois =
This is a great bill - Illinois must embrace expanded utility-scale Nuclear as a clean reliable and familiar power source. For too long the environmental lobby has placed goofy limits on Illinois energy policy - and as we see with the expansion of Gas plants in nearby states.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:13 am:
Kinda odd seeing a MAGA GOP pol talking about clean energy sources as her national leadership is aggressively pursuing a vendetta against clean energy. “Drill baby, drill.”
- Sox Fan - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:27 am:
I would be more in favor of exempting students who are not on scholarship and working their way through college from income taxes than what Rep Weaver is proposing.
- NonAFSCMEEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:33 am:
I prefer heftier taxes (maybe up to 50%) on NIL money with proceeds going to the State schools whose budgets are suffering (e.g., WIU, SIUC, EIU, UIC).
- Lakefront - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:36 am:
== Lobbyist Matt Hughes of MRH Solutions has filed two state bills ==
Kind of weird phrasing isn’t it? I know lobbyists write A LOT of our bills in Illinois, but that dude didn’t “file” anything. Draft? sure. Find and persuade the sponsor? Certainly. But this culture that the legislators are just vehicles for lobbyist ambition gets a little out of hand sometimes.
- CapnCrunch - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:39 am:
“…exempting NIL money earned by college athletes from state income tax….”
And we’ll subsidize your participation by giving a tax deduction to the folks who donated the money to the University.
This bill will really help us find additional revenue.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:43 am:
===Kinda odd seeing a MAGA GOP pol talking about clean energy sources===
A lot of highly paid nuclear plant employees in her district, for one.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:47 am:
===MAGA GOP pol===
There are variations, and she’s def not hardcore.
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:50 am:
I disagree with Senator Weaver’s proposal. Income is income. Tax it. Let Georgia and Alabama and the other SEC states do as they wish. But Illinois has a flat income tax. That only works if all earners are treated as equals. Loop holes create fiscal problems, and breed discontent.
- Cook street - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:56 am:
Lakefront has it right, lobbyists can’t file anything. Whoever the sponsor is or will be looks weak.
- Here - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 10:59 am:
Lobbyists don’t file bills. But lobbyists being paid by municipalities like Matt Hughes with Sterling have to justify their monthly retainer.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:03 am:
“… but that dude didn’t “file” anything. ”
Shouldn’t the reporter know only legislators can “file” bills?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:06 am:
===Shouldn’t the reporter know===
lol
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:22 am:
=“Drill baby, drill.”=
The current Administration is very much in favor of expanded nuclear power. It should come as no surprise as the US is a leader in plant design (AP1000) and commercial fuel assemblies (Westinghouse High Energy Fuel Program)
https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/blogs/environmental-edge/2025/02/trump-admin-fed-cir-set-to-jumpstart-nuclear-energy
- clec dcn - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:28 am:
It was a long time ago, but I worked in college, and they tax your income. What is so special about college athletes that then not pay income tax. This is not the way I think it should work. Given they probably earn more than the typical student working. I not sure at all about that but it is big time sports.
- Perrid - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:32 am:
In a hard budget year, when we’re talking of allowing more gambling with the justification that it brings in revenue, even as it ruins people’s lives, why are we giving tax breaks to athletes? If they’re getting paid, if they’re getting income, that income should be taxed.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:37 am:
===that income should be taxed===
I do not understand the reasoning for this bill at all. Bizarre. Mind you, I think it’s great that they’re getting paid. They should pay taxes on their income, however.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:39 am:
The athletes fought for compensation. They should have to pay taxes on that compensation. Some of these athletes get free tuition and now cash payments. How many other benefits do they get? They need to pay taxes.
- We've never had one before - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:49 am:
===hard core===
I am very much a conservative, I like nuclear energy and the later designs for safe fission reactors. They definitely have smaller environmental impact than carbon-based solutions as long as it’s done properly. Yes, there is a legacy waste issue, and some of the new reactor designs can run on that waste, using it as fuel.
I would love to be able to toss in a plug for fusion, but it’s still 30 years away.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:49 am:
=I do not understand the reasoning for this bill at all. Bizarre=
Football is big business both at the pro and collegiate levels - There have been stories of NFL free agents like Josh Jacobs not signing with teams in high-income tax states. The same thing applies to NIL money for elite college players - Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Northwestern could attract more skilled players compared to other states that tax NIL
https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2024/09/01/josh-jacobs-turned-down-massive-free-agent-offer-from-new-york-giants/
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:51 am:
===Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Northwestern could attract more skilled players compared to other states that tax NIL===
lol
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:51 am:
===There have been stories of NFL free agents like Josh Jacobs not signing with teams in high-income tax states===
When they play games in Illinois, they are taxed in Illinois.
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 11:59 am:
Sort of odd that taxes influence business decisions. I wonder why no politician has thought of this before.
- Pundent - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
The highest paid public employee in virtually every state is a football coach. And in the meantime we expect teachers to pay for supplies and suggest exempting NIL money from taxation. Our priorities are out of whack.
- Telly - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:10 pm:
== The current Administration is very much in favor of expanded nuclear power ==
Both the Biden and Trump administrations are/were pro-nuke. The problem with nuke expansion is the cost. If the data center/crypto/quantum folks are willing to front some of the cash, it can become more doable.
- Just a Citizen - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:10 pm:
House Bill 3008 is needed. Teachers spend too much of their own money on classroom supplies.
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:19 pm:
NIL will eventually relegate Division I sports to a handful of colleges. Scheduling will soon be done by committee.
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:23 pm:
Re: WTVO
=== “in-demand” fields such as nursing, advanced manufacturing, and early childhood education. ===
It is good to see these fields being fleshed out in print. I hope these fields will be formally arbitrated in a formal committee. The competition between the U of I system and the regional state universities is already intensifying as the U of I sets it sights on a 60% increase in enrollment. Creating a new wild west of academic programming could be the death knell for regionals and the two Chicago regionals.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:25 pm:
The current Administration is very much in favor of expanded nuclear power.=
All evidence to the contrary. President Musk just gutted the department of energy. Not energy but the rocket scientist fired the people that watch over our nuclear arsenal. Support is more than just words, actions matter.
=Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Northwestern could attract more skilled players=
All for them getting paid. I went to one of those schools and loved going to games but don’t give a wit if paying 4.95% runs players off. Pay your stinkin taxes.
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 12:39 pm:
Before asking, I retract my statement suggesting the U of I system is pursuing a 60% increase in enrollment. I was wrong.
I had heard their goal was to reach 100,000 student in the system, and mistakenly thought the system was currently at 60,000 students. I just checked, and appears the system is currently at 97,000 students, of which 64,000 are undergraduates. 60,000 to 100,000 equals sloppiness on my part. Sorry.
Of note, the First-year enrollment in the U of I system is 13,700 this year. I am not sure how many are from Illinois, but “I think” I just saw a number around 5,000+.
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 2:59 pm:
===Teachers spend too much of their own money on classroom supplies.===
The better approach is to require districts to set aside some portion of their budget (e.g., 0.1%) to be allocated to teachers for classroom supplies, not to create a new state program requiring new state dollars.
===Football is big business both at the pro and collegiate levels===
Colleges should have never let it get this far. What was primarily about amateur athleticism among our brightest young adults has lost its way among the gold and glitter of sports revenue and marketing. The players have grown to be more professional and well paid as the college education falls further from everyone’s concern. At what point is college football just a minor league of the NFL with no pretense of helping the athletes lead a safe, healthy, financially-sound life after football?
===First-year enrollment in the U of I system is 13,700 this year. I am not sure how many are from Illinois, but “I think” I just saw a number around 5,000+.===
There are 13,689 freshmen of which 10,577 are from Illinois. Source: https://www.uillinois.edu/data/enrollment
- Proud Sucker - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 3:12 pm:
“It was a long time ago, but I worked in college, and they tax your income.”
Same here. During my soph and junior years, I couldn’t take part in early registration because I owed the Bursar the same amount as my withholding. I’d get my tax refund around March and then I’d be able to pay off my tuition and then register. It did make a mess of my schedule as I missed out on a few prerequisites. All was cured in my ninth semester.
These guys won’t even notice the tax.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 3:34 pm:
=== money earned by college athletes from state income tax. ===
We already don’t tax their scholarships including room and board as income.
Is the tax situation of college athletes really something we want to be probing? Is the athletic scholarship really about scholarship at this point or is it income the employee receives in exchange for performing job duties for the school?
They should leave well enough alone instead of asking us to not tax their income which would require us to reconsider what exactly should be included in their income.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 4:32 pm:
===but it’s still 30 years away.===
Fusion has always been, and will always be, 30 years away. Sadly.
Although the French just had a great test, 22 minutes of sustained plasma reaction. So progress, but very slow progress.
- paul w, chicago - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 4:44 pm:
republican state rep, yeah, that’ll go far.
- Michael McLean - Thursday, Feb 20, 25 @ 8:09 pm:
== Both the Biden and Trump administrations are/were pro-nuke. The problem with nuke expansion is the cost. ==
The IRA has up to a 50% investment tax credit for new build nuclear. If you take the power purchase agreement price that Microsoft is paying for the Three Mile Island restart (~$110/mwh), tack on the ITC, low-interest loans from the LPO, you get to a price that the private market might be able to bear without public investment.