* Sen. Cristina Castro…

State Senator Cristina Castro led a measure through the Senate that would make a temporary “cocktails to-go” state law permanent and create new rules to allow more small Illinois distilleries to self-distribute spirits. […]

The measure would create a class 3 craft distiller’s license, which would allow the distillery to manufacture up to 100,000 gallons of spirits annually. These licensees would then be able to apply for the ability to self-distribute up to 2,500 gallons annually.

The legislation would also make permanent a temporary law permitting bars and restaurants to sell cocktails and mixed drinks for delivery and curbside pickup — often referred to as “cocktails to-go.”

To ease barriers for small businesses seeking a liquor license, the measure would also eliminate the requirement for a business applying for a liquor license to provide a tax bond during the application process. On average, a tax bond costs small craft manufacturers or distributors $500 to obtain from a financial institution, creating another monetary barrier for those seeking to start or expand their business.

* Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts…

Chief Judge Evans has issued a General Administrative Order (GAO), effective today, asserting the common law privilege against civil arrests of people attending court in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

The order states that no one attending court, as a witness or otherwise, “will be subjected to a civil arrest in or around the courthouse” except in cases where there’s a judicial warrant or order authorizing that arrest or an emergency. This includes civil immigration arrests by ICE agents and other federal officials. The order notes: “The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible, and that litigants and witnesses may appear without fear of civil arrest.” […]

Both Chicago Appleseed and our partners at the Chicago Council of Lawyers have also joined in support of the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Norma Hernandez and Senator Celina Villanueva, would ban civil arrests—including immigration arrests made without a judicial warrant—in courthouses and codify common law privilege in Illinois. In the past several months, the unprecedented increase in civil arrests by federal immigration officials in and around Illinois courthouses has made communities less safe and hindered access to justice, with at least 14 Illinois residents being subjected to civil immigration enforcement actions at courthouses.

The Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act does not apply to any federal or immigration courts, but would prohibit civil arrests from taking place “inside, on the way to, or coming home from, any Illinois courthouse.” It would also allow for a civil action to be taken against those who violate the law. We urge the Illinois Legislature to pass the bill and encourage Governor Pritzker to sign it promptly.

* Inside Climate News…

The [Illinois Environmental Council rally] coincided with the second day of the state legislature’s brief fall veto session, six days spread through this month that are the last chance this year to pass bills. In addition to transit funding, many attendees advocated for passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act, a sweeping omnibus energy bill aimed at ensuring the state meets its goal to transition to renewable energy by 2050.

State Rep. Ann Williams, a Democrat representing Chicago’s North Side, introduced the CRGA Act during the spring legislative session, but the bill never made it to a vote. Disagreements over battery financing, data center regulations and lifting a moratorium on nuclear plant construction drove a wedge between environmental, labor and industry groups.

Kady McFadden, a legislative strategist for the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, thinks a lot has changed about the political landscape since then. […]

The state legislature has a full schedule during the session this month. But McFadden believes that rising electricity costs paired with sharp federal funding cuts add urgency to the push for energy legislation.

“This bill is ready to go,” said McFadden. “We’ve been able to take the summer to make sure that stakeholders are in alignment. … Now all that’s left is to vote.”

* Subscribers know much more. Daily Herald…

The Chicago Bears are poised to move to the suburbs. But are Illinois lawmakers — and local taxpayers — going to help them do it? […]

Among those proposals is a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, where the Bears plan to build a new stadium on the former Arlington Park site.

Canty’s bill would allow mega projects — defined as those in which at least $500 million is invested within seven to 10 years — to freeze their property tax assessments and make annual payments negotiated through a local review board that would include representatives from municipalities and other local governments. […]

Democratic state Rep. Anne Stava of Naperville cited similar reasons for her opposition to Canty’s bill in its current form.

“Property taxes are already a huge burden for too many families, so giving special property tax breaks to billionaires and developers is tone deaf. … If local governments want to give tax breaks, they should go ahead. But they should bear the cost, not shift it to others,” Stava said.

* NBC Chicago…

Illinois lawmakers are facing a series of tough questions during their fall veto session, including the future of public transit and of the Chicago Bears.

While lawmakers have been cool on the idea of approving public funding to help support the Bears’ proposed stadium project in suburban Arlington Heights, State Rep. Kam Buckner is looking to demand plenty of transparency should any deal take place. […]

The STARS Act was introduced by Buckner this week in Springfield, requiring teams to fund cost-benefit analysis studies and to publish the findings online for public perusal before any deal can be agreed to. […]

It’s unclear whether that measure, or the Bears’ pursuit of a property tax freeze and assistance in upgrading infrastructure around the proposed stadium, will even be discussed during the veto session.

* Illinois Public Interest Research Group director Abraham Scarr…

Across America and here in Illinois, homes and cars are among the most expensive things people buy. But payments on these pricey purchases don’t end with mortgage or car loan installments. Insurance to protect these investments is costly as well — but much less costly than not having insurance, in case of some sort of disaster or accident.

Like almost every other state, Illinois requires that vehicle owners hold an active auto insurance policy. And while no state law mandates homeowners insurance, mortgage lenders, who want to protect their financial stakes in our homes, do. […]

Gov. JB Pritzker is trying to fix this. His Department of Insurance filed legislation in the spring that would give the department the ability to reject or modify home and auto insurance rate increases. Along with state House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and state Senate President Don Harmon, the governor called on legislators in a Tribune op-ed to act on this issue when the Illinois General Assembly convenes for two weeks this October. Despite this strong message from leaders in Springfield, change won’t be easy. The insurance industry is working to block or water down the proposed reforms.

Nothing has highlighted the need for reform more than State Farm’s half-billion-dollar homeowners insurance rate hike this summer. State Farm, which covers roughly one-third of insured homes in Illinois, raised average premiums by 27%, or $750 annually, with some policies rising as high as 40%.