* Christopher Wellborn and Bonnie Hoffman from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers…

This month, the Illinois Senate will consider the Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation Act, a bill to create a statewide, independent public defense system. If passed, the legislation will create an Office of the State Public Defender and a State Public Defender Commission. Together, they would establish workload standards, support training and enhance resources for county public defense systems across the state.

The FAIR Act — House Bill 3363 — follows recommendations made by an Illinois Supreme Court-commissioned study released in 2021 and an Illinois Judicial Conference Task Force report released in 2023. Last spring, the Illinois Supreme Court introduced the issue to the Legislature, setting in motion reform conversations that have culminated in the development of the FAIR Act by public defenders, advocates and legislative partners.

Last May, the Sun-Times Editorial Board endorsed creation of a statewide public defender, highlighting lack of resources and the disparate impact this has on Black and Brown people in Illinois. As the FAIR Act moves through the legislative process, the issue of independence must also be given the utmost attention by legislators. […]

When local judges control public defense systems, attorneys may become concerned with appeasing those judges to retain their roles or grow reluctant to push back against judicial policies and actions that hurt their clients. Judges may wield their authority to force defenders to conform to the court’s preferences and practices, firing those whom they see as too zealous in their advocacy or too outspoken in their critiques. And even if judges and attorneys do not fall prey to these pressures, clients and community members lose confidence in public defenders who are employed at the mercy of the very courts that seek to punish them. It is critical that public defenders be free from judicial interference so they can put the needs of their clients over the desires of the court.

* Center Square…

Legislation that would put several more restrictions on Illinois landlords is moving through Springfield.

The Rental Fee Transparency and Fairness Act found in House Bill 3564 passed the Illinois House, but has pending Senate amendments to prohibit a number of other charges a landlord uses to recoup funds to pay for damages. The original version prohibited any type of move-in fee. […]

The bill now would mandate that if the housing provider charges a move-in or move-out fee, the housing provider must provide an itemized list of the cost of the services, including “bundled services.”

The measure also would prohibit so-called “junk fees,” such as a fee or fine ancillary to the application fee, a fee or fine for modification or renewal of a lease agreement, or a fee or fine for an eviction notice or the filing of an eviction action.

* One Aim Illinois…

ADVISORY: 12 pm TODAY
One Aim Illinois Leads Advocacy Day in Springfield, Pushing for Critical Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
Three major bills in the Illinois Legislature will strengthen community safety and foster greater transparency and accountability between communities and law enforcement

WHO:
State Sen. Laura Ellman, (D-Naperville)
State Sen. Ram Villivilam, (D-Chicago)
State Rep. Kevin Olickal, (D-Chicago)
State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, (D-Northbrook)
Yolanda Androzzo, Executive Director of One Aim Illinois
Kathleen Sances, CEO of G-PAC
Trey Bosley, Survivor and Advocate
Pam Bosley, Survivor and Advocate
Millie Burgos, Survivor and Advocate
Delphine Cherry, Survivor and Advocate
Marsha Lee, Survivor and Advocate

WHAT:
More than 100 survivors, advocates and community leaders will join One Aim Illinois for Advocacy Day in Springfield. Together they will call for the passage of Safe at Home legislation, which focuses on secure firearm storage and timely reporting of lost or stolen guns. They will also advocate for the Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act, Homicide Data Transparency Bill and other community violence intervention funding efforts.

This press conference is about lifting up the voices of those most impacted by gun violence and urging lawmakers to act on critical policies that will create safer communities and promote accountability.

WHEN:
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 12 pm

Virtual option on One Aim’s Facebook Page

* Illinois Environmental Council…

On Wednesday, May 21 at 1pm, nearly 400 community leaders, environmental advocates, faith leaders, business representatives, consumer groups, students, and state legislators will rally at the Lincoln Statue of the Illinois State Capitol Building to urge state lawmakers to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB2473/HB3779) and legislation to overhaul transit leadership and invest $1.5 billion for safer, cleaner, more reliable public transit. These bills will, respectively, accelerate Illinois’ clean energy progress while protecting consumers amidst a rise in energy demand due to data centers and avert the transit fiscal cliff while transforming public transit across the Chicagoland region.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 1:00pm CT

WHAT: Climate Action Lobby Day rally

WHERE: Lincoln Statue, Illinois State Capitol, 401 S. 2nd St. Springfield, IL 62756 and live-streamed via facebook.com/ilcleanjobs/live_videos.

SPEAKERS:
Emcee: Jen Walling, Executive Director, Illinois Environmental Council
State Senator Ram Villivalam
State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado
State Representative Robyn Gabel
& advocates!

* Sen. Graciela Guzmán…

To ensure constituents feel comfortable bringing a complaint if they believe they are facing unlawful discrimination with AI, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is leading legislation that would codify the Illinois Department of Human Rights’ present interpretation of the law.

“As technology continues to evolve, our laws also need to evolve,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “I want my constituents and Illinoisans at large to feel comfortable bringing a complaint if they believe they are subject to unlawful discrimination, regardless of whether the instance is related to housing, employment, or any other means.”

Senate Bill 613 would make it clear that violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act that are conducted using artificial intelligence are unlawful discrimination.

“For all the possibilities that AI helps provide in our modern world, we want to center protections for consumers to ensure we do not allow for the proliferation of discriminatory activities using these tools,” said Guzmán . “In the absence of federal guidance, states are obligated to balance innovation with protecting their constituents. I look forward to building on the gains of this bill to ensure Illinoisans are not suffering from discriminatory action or other possible harms of AI in the future.”

Senate Bill 613 passed the Senate Human Rights committee on Thursday. It now goes to the floor of the Senate for further consideration.

* Center Square…

House Bill 1375 would have taxpayers provide five-figure stipends to student teachers.

State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, affirmed that the stipends would be for students from public universities. Koehler said full funding of the program would require $600 million.

“This is part of the budget discussion. I don’t expect that we’re going to get the full amount, but we’d like to get something so we can get this started,” Koehler said. […]

ShiAnne Shively of the Illinois Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, joined Koehler in support of HB 1375. Shively said people are not allowed to have outside work while they are student teaching. […]

The measure is currently in the Illinois Senate Appropriations Education Committee. The third reading deadline is May 23. The spring legislative session is scheduled to conclude May 31.

* Mahomet Daily…

Illinois lawmakers are poised to pass landmark legislation that would create the state’s first comprehensive framework for evaluating and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in K-12 schools. The proposal, which has garnered bipartisan attention in the final weeks of the legislative session, tasks the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with developing statewide guidance to help educators and students navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI tools.

The legislation, House Bill 2503 and its Senate counterpart, calls for the creation of a State Instructional Technology Advisory Board. This board will collaborate with ISBE to provide guidance, integration, oversight, and evaluation of education technologies, with a particular focus on AI. The advisory board will include educators, technology experts, and representatives from statewide education organizations, ensuring diverse perspectives in shaping policy.

Among the bill’s central requirements:

- Development of AI Standards: ISBE, in consultation with the advisory board, must develop standards for safety, transparency, data privacy, and educational quality for any AI technology used in schools.
- Annual Reporting: School districts will be required to submit annual reports to ISBE detailing how students, teachers, and district employees use AI, as well as their educational technology capacity and policies.
- AI Literacy and Professional Development: The state will create professional development opportunities to help educators build AI literacy and implement the new guidance effectively.
- Internet Safety Curriculum Updates: The bill mandates that the internet safety education curriculum include instruction in the safe and responsible use of AI, such as recognizing and reporting online harassment, cyberbullying, and deepfakes generated by AI tools.

The bill was developed in partnership with Teach Plus Illinois, the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, and a coalition of education organizations. Advocates say the framework will help ensure that all districts, regardless of size or resources, have access to expert-driven guidance, rather than leaving individual teachers or districts to navigate complex decisions alone.

Both bills — HB2503 and SB1556 — have missed deadlines to pass through committee.