* Tribune…

A hearing on legislation that would allow terminally ill people to end their lives with the help of a physician was postponed Wednesday as lawmakers sought more time to refine the proposal, which advocates are again pushing after failing to get a version through the General Assembly last year.

The measure would legalize medical aid in dying, often referred to as physician-assisted suicide or medically-assisted death, allowing mentally competent, terminally ill adults the right to access life-ending prescription medication. […]

The legislation, filed by state Sen. Linda Holmes, an Aurora Democrat, was pulled from the agenda of a Senate Executive Committee hearing as lawmakers sought to add at least one amendment. Details over how the bill would be changed were not clear.

The measure is opposed by disability rights advocates and the Catholic church, which say it could lead to discrimination, coercion and abuse. Some medical practitioners also are against it.

* WAND…

A bill moving to the Illinois House floor would require the Illinois Board of Higher Education to distribute a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for student teachers.

Advocates estimate the new stipend program could cost $68 million, but Advance Illinois is only requesting $10 million to start the program. […]

The legislation would also allow the Illinois State Board of Education to provide $2,000 per semester to eligible cooperating teachers.

House Bill 1375 passed out of the House Higher Education Committee on a 10-1 vote Wednesday night.

* WBEZ…

Advocates pushing to repeal Illinois’ so-called “truth-in-sentencing” law are urging patience as they navigate competing bills through a General Assembly that’s still politically wary of voting on sweeping criminal justice reforms.

Lawmakers and advocacy groups in the Credit for Change coalition are debating whether to go for a complete repeal of the law via House Bill 2367 (formerly H.B. 5219), or whether to take an incremental approach with H.B. 3449.

Truth-in-sentencing laws are a big reason many people in prisons nationwide are serving long sentences. Illinois’ law, passed in 1998, makes people convicted of certain crimes serve at least 75% of their sentences before being eligible for release. Before that, they often got released after serving half their sentences.

Sponsored by State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, H.B. 3449 would chip away at the state’s truth-in-sentencing statute by reducing the amount of time people locked up under the law have to serve by 25 percentage points. For example, someone currently required to serve 100% of their sentence would only have to serve 75%, and someone now serving 85% would have their time recalculated to 60%.

* Chalkbeat Chicago…

Early morning swim practice, a full day of school, evening swim meets, and homework after school is a lot to manage for Maya Anderson. It’s even harder when she doesn’t get enough sleep.

Anderson, a student at Libertyville High School in a suburb north of Chicago, said not getting enough sleep can impact her focus, mood, and performance after a long day. She often struggles to stay awake in class and craves a few more minutes of rest.

It’s why Anderson and two other Libertyville High students — Benjamin Ratner and Addie Krupinski — are advocating for a bill in Springfield that would require public high schools to start no earlier than 8:45 a.m.

Libertyville High School starts at 8:45 a.m., and Anderson acknowledged that she still struggles to balance sleep and her daily activities. But she told state lawmakers at the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday that her school has seen an overall increase in academic performance and students’ well-being since pushing the start time back in the fall of 2018, although she didn’t highlight particular academic data. […]

It’s not clear what will happen to the bill next. [Rep. Laura Faver Dias] said the goal of Wednesday’s committee hearing was to show lawmakers that the issue is important to high school students’ well-being.

* Brownfield Ag News…

The president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA) says proposed legislation in the state legislature would ban some important herbicides.

K.J. Johnson tells Brownfield, “This would be an all-out ban on 2, 4-D ester.” He says, “This is some of your older formalizations of 2, 4-D, but we still use a lot in burn downs. If you use a 2, 4-D as a burn down in fall or spring, it’s probably a 2, 4-D ester.” […]

“That would be the first time we’ve ever banned an actual one-off product in the state of Illinois.” He says, “We have some major concerns.”

Johnson says IFCA is also opposing legislation that would require any pesticide applicator to provide written or email notice 72 hours prior to a pesticide application within half a mile to schools or parks.

* WAND…

“I don’t want to take any threats lightly,” said State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) as he talked about his new bill that could prevent school gun violence before it happens.

When a teacher learns a students threatened one of their classmates with a gun, the proposal would force that teacher to contact the principal. After that, the principal would have to contact the family members involved.

Davidsmeyer filed this bill after he heard of a bullying incident, where a student threatened another kid with a gun. When the kid told the teacher of this incident, they did not report it to the principal.

The Republican lawmaker wanted a plan to reduce school gun violence while not impeding on Illinoisan Second Amendment rights.

* Rep. Mike Crawford…

State Rep. Mike Crawford, D-Chicago, is cracking down on unsolicited telemarketer calls that bombard people with unnecessary and often fraudulent offers by introducing tough new phone privacy legislation.

“State law is far too lax when it comes to stopping marketing schemes from pestering seniors and families with constant phone calls asking them to sign up for whatever good or service they’re selling, even after they’ve been specifically asked to be removed from their call lists,” Crawford said. “These calls are interfering with emergency calls, notifications from local governments and utilities, and from legitimate companies that constituents trust and have existing business with. I am committed to seeing this debate on the House Floor and providing real relief for families rightfully outraged at these for-profit scammers and marketers.”

Crawford’s House Bill 2435 cracks down on companies who solicit callers with goods or services unless explicit consent is given to receive automated solicitation. Current law allows registered salespersons and auto dialers to circumvent prohibitions on solicitation, even after recipients asked to be removed from their call lists. The legislation allows for those who consent to receive these calls to revoke their consent at any time and levies a $500 fine per violation of the recipient’s consent.

HB2435 has been assigned to the House Consumer Protection Committee.