* Capitol News Illinois…

The Illinois House took its first step Monday in passing legislation responding to proposed actions by the Trump administration.

The House voted 67-39 to advance House Bill 3637, which would put new protections in state law to safeguard health care licenses for providers who offer abortion cares. It also guarantees continued access to abortion medication even if the medication’s approval is rescinded by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

“We know that Project 2025 has called for the revoking of the FDA approval for medication abortion drugs, and we cannot wait to react after the fact,” Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Romeoville, said.

Under the bill, if the FDA ends approval for a drug, health care providers in Illinois will be allowed to continue providing the medication so long as the World Health Organization recommends it. Democrats fear the Trump administration may take action that makes critical medications, including those for abortion, inaccessible.

* House Republican Leader Tony McCombie…

Today, Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie passed bipartisan legislation in the Illinois House to prohibit co-pays for sexual assault exams. Leader McCombie presented the measure, calling it a commonsense bill to protect victims of sexual assault.

“This bill gives victims an added protection of knowing they will not be overburdened when they receive care,” said Leader McCombie. “It is important we close harmful loopholes when we find them in statute.”

The legislation, HB2805, has the support of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside). The bill passed unanimously when it was presented for a vote on April 8th, 2025.

HB2805 will now move forward to the Senate for further consideration.

* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…

Illinois teachers and families would have better tools to identify behavioral and mental health needs for youth to connect them with community-based supports under a measure led by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz. […]

Feigenholtz has worked alongside members of the Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, led by Dr. Dana Weiner, since 2022. Feigenholtz sponsored and passed the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Act in 2023, paving the way for the new BEACON portal, a centralized online platform for Illinois children and families seeking mental health services. Through BEACON, youth and caregivers can find services they qualify for, manage health records securely, receive real-time updates and request additional case support.

Under Feigenholtz’s proposal, the state would begin working with schools to offer mental health screenings to students in third-grade through high school. School districts would only be required to implement the screenings as long as the state is able to offer screening tools at no cost to the school. […]

Senate Bill 1560 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

* WAND…

A State Democratic plan to ban move in fees barely passed the House floor Tuesday.

The bill would ban move in fees and require application fees to be no higher than $20. It would also change late fee’s to 1% of the total rent. So, if a renter pays their $1000 rent too late, they would be charged $10. Security deposits would not be banned under the plan. […]

Some Democrats also showed some opposition on the floor. State Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) had a problem with the late fees. Mayfield said as a landlord she has renters who are “habitually late.” […]

Mayfield did not vote on the proposal due to a conflict of interest.

For a bill to pass the House it needs 60 votes. This plan received 61. It will now head to the Senate floor for further debate.

* Peoria Journal Star…

HB 2456, also known as the Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act, would prevent third-party services from listing, advertising, promoting or selling restaurant reservations through their website, mobile app or other platform without a written agreement.

Any person who violates the bill would be subject to a $1,000 civil penalty, with each day of unauthorized distribution warranting a separate violation. […]

Alice Wozniak, the manager of Raoul’s Restaurant in New York, told The Wall Street Journal that services like this can “preclude the average diner from getting in the door.” She also said unsold reservations can cause the restaurant to lose out on revenue and tips, while reservation trading can prevent the restaurant from knowing vital information, such as a diner’s preferences and allergies. […]

The bill will then become a law if the governor signs it or fails to take action within 60 days. If the governor vetoes the bill, the chambers can either override the veto or amend the bill as requested by the governor.

* Capitol News Illinois…

The House passed a bill Tuesday that would ban public schools from using mascots that discriminate against people with disabilities.

The bill, if signed into law, currently would affect just one high school in St. Clair County.

Freeburg Community High School’s mascot, the “Midgets,” is considered a slur used against people with dwarfism. […]

Under House Bill 3527, the school could continue using “uniforms or other materials” it bought before the bill was passed until Sept. 1, 2028, as long as it already picked a new mascot, according to the bill’s language. The bill doesn’t clarify what repercussions, if any, the school would face if it didn’t change its mascot.

The bill passed through the House on Tuesday with a vote of 71-38. […]

The bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, said the name was * chosen during a time when freak shows, the exhibitions of human “abnormalities,” were popular.

School alumni, members of the Freeburg community, along with activists and organizations, filed more than 1,000 “witness slips” to the General Assembly for and against the bill.

* Center Square…

Businesses would face new weather-based mandates from state government if lawmakers approve Illinois House Bill 3762.

The proposal by state Rep. Edgar González, Jr., D-Chicago, would impose new rules when “excessive” weather conditions impact workplaces.

The proposed regulations would apply when the wind chill is 40 degrees or lower and when the heat index is 80 degrees or more. Among other changes, employees could refuse to work and employers would have to make adjustments and accommodations. […]

HB 3762 is up for consideration by the Illinois House after it was approved by the chamber’s Labor and Commerce Committee.

* More…

* WAND | IL commission to reduce food deserts passes the House: It would also review current policies to see if they are working as intended. For an area to be considered a food desert, it has to be one mile or farther from a supermarket in the city or ten miles and farther in rural Illinois. It also considers income level, where if an area is too poor to afford food, then it is considered a food desert.

* WAND | IL bill to expand what constitutes stalking unanimously passes the House: Under the plan, a victim can more easily obtain a Stalking No Contact Order if the victim feels under emotional distress. This emotional distress could include the stalker making repeated phone calls or unwanted visits to their home or workplace. State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) said this plan would not impact Illinoisan First Amendment rights.

* WTVO | Illinois lawmakers urged to pass ‘United We Move’ bill for safer, smarter transit: The bill would create safer, smarter and more realistic public transit for Northeastern Illinois, according to supporters. The bill would also promote a more reliable experience for riders and reform to combat the $770 million fiscal cliff the system is facing.

* Fox Chicago | Illinois bill would require birthdate registration for new phones to shield kids from adult content: Illinois State Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago) says there’s a near fail-safe way to protect kids under 18: pass a law that requires Illinoisans to enter their birthdate when they purchase a new cellphone or electronic device. […] The bill is currently sitting in a Senate subcommittee on social media and A.I.

* Capitol News Illinois | Plans expanding protections for trafficking, sexual assault victims approved by House: Current Illinois law only allows a victim of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking to pursue prosecution of their offender for up to 25 years after the victim reaches the age of 18. House Bill 2602 would allow victims to pursue prosecution at any time.

* WAND | Illinois House passes behavioral healthcare parity plan: State representatives passed a bill Monday night that could significantly improve access to mental health and substance use treatment. Democrats and Republicans are championing a plan to set minimum reimbursement rates for providers to properly compensate them for their services. […] House Bill 1085 passed out of the House on a 72-33 vote. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

* WGN | Illinois House passes bill letting DUI offenders drive with breathalyzer restrictions: he Illinois House has passed a bill that would allow people convicted of DUI to apply for restricted driving privileges, as long as they agree to use a blood-alcohol monitoring device. House Bill 2658 would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow the Secretary of State’s office to issue a restricted driving permit allowing someone convicted of DUI to drive 6 days a week, 12 hours per day, within a 200-mile radius of their home.

* WAND | Illinois House passes violent crime reporting proposal, sends plan to Senate: The plan calls on the Illinois State Police to send the number of homicides and aggravated assaults with a firearm to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Police would also be required to document when the crime occurred and the status of each case. “The purpose of this is to streamline the process to get away from the clearance rate number that we’re using right now that is a bit opaque and doesn’t provide true justice for people,” said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “The amendment also brings ICJIA and the Illinois State Police to neutrality on this bill.”

* WAND | A State Democratic bill to notify new families of premature baby care passes unanimously out of the House: When a baby’s birth weight is below 2.2 pounds, they could have developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Under the plan, babies under this weight would be referred to Early Intervention services, which helps toddlers reach important developmental benchmarks such as walking or talking.

* WAND | IL House Democrats pass bill requiring contraception, medication abortion at public college health centers: Illinois House Democrats passed a plan Tuesday to require public universities and community colleges with student health services to provide contraception and medication abortion. Campus healthcare professionals would be tasked with discussing contraception and abortion options with students before sending prescriptions to campus pharmacies.