It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Click here for some background. HB4189 was introduced yesterday…
Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that the amendatory provisions may be referred to as the Health Care Sanctity and Privacy Law. Requires hospitals to adopt and implement a policy regarding interactions with law enforcement agents. Sets forth minimum requirements for the policy, including designating a contact person or persons to be notified of all law enforcement presence or information requests and establishing the following procedures: procedures to respond to such requests; procedures to verify the identity and authority of any law enforcement agent involved in civil immigration activities at a hospital site; procedures for designating space for law enforcement agents to remain and wait at a hospital; procedures for patients to request an amendment to their medical records; and procedures concerning the release of information to law enforcement agents. Requires the policy to be submitted to the Department of Public Health. Establishes a fine for hospitals that fail to submit the policy. Sets forth provisions concerning complaints of noncompliance with the provisions; holding hospital personnel harmless from any civil, criminal, or other liability that may arise as a result of their reasonable compliance with the amendatory provisions; obligations as a mandated reporter; and conflicts with federal law. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act to require compliance with the provisions of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
* WAND….
The Illinois Power Agency says deploying three gigawatts of battery storage technology could save Ameren and ComEd customers $13.4 billion over 20 years.
That is one of the main components Democrats hope to see approved under the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act. The legislation would also bring more solar and wind projects online while investing in geothermal technology and empowering state agencies to better plan for energy demand spikes.
Advocates say President Donald Trump’s budget bill put the renewable energy community on the clock. Tax credit eligibility is now determined based on when a project is placed in service instead of when a project begins construction.
Lawmakers could modernize the Illinois Commerce Commission’s working group to have more power in making decisions related to interconnection.
More via WCIA…
“This is really the only bill that recognizes we need every watt that we have got,” Illinois Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham said.
That debate is likely coming down to the Clean Renewable Grid Affordability Act or CRGA. CRGA has seen significant support from democrats and consumer advocates. But the Illinois Manufacturers Association is joining Republicans in opposing the bill.
They say funding the expanded battery storage component pushes the cost to consumers when prices are already high.
“We have to, we have the mindset right now of all energy, especially if we want to have data centers, especially if we want to expand manufacturing and people to actually come to our state,” House Minority Leader Tony McCombie said.
* NBC Chicago…
NBC 5 Responds has heard from frustrated customers who say the process of retrieving and applying digital coupons at Jewel-Osco grocery stores is unreliable and time-consuming. […]
Now, Illinois lawmakers are stepping in.
State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) has introduced legislation that would require grocery stores to offer alternatives to digital-only coupons. The bill would mandate that advertised prices be honored even if a customer doesn’t have access to a smartphone or app. […]
She suggests stores could offer paper coupons in addition to digital coupons. […]
“When we introduced the bill, people really just started coming out from all over the state talking about the issues they were seeing,” [Rep. Yang Rohr said.]
The bill, introduced last December, has yet to advance and faces opposition from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois.
* WAND…
A bill heading to the Illinois House floor could update state regulations for craft brewers and distillers to help grow business.
The plan could create a Class 3 craft distiller license and self-distribution exemption. It also clarifies that using third-party platforms to deliver liquor is not illegal reselling, transferring, or exchanging of alcoholic drinks.
The bill would allow craft brewer license holders to offer rewards and loyalty programs like mug clubs for customers as well.
“In 2019, we created the cocktails-to-go program,” Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island) said Tuesday. “It had a sunset. We’re going to remove the sunset and make it a permanent program.”
* Sen. Julie Morrison introduced SB2725 yesterday. The synopsis…
Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Provides that no hemp cannabinoid shall be bottled and sold for purchase in a package or container that contains caffeine, including, but not limited to, ready to drink beverages. Defines “hemp cannabinoid”.
* NPR Illinois…
The proposed Responsibility in Firearm Legislation, or RIFL Act, would create a licensing fee for any gun manufacturer that does business in Illinois.
Gun makers are immune from civil lawsuits from victims of gun violence. But the sponsor said this is a legal approach.
State Representative Kevin Olickal, a Skokie Democrat, said the revenue from the fees would go to a fund to support those impacted by gun violence and their families. He said the fees will depend on the safety features of specific weapons sold and how many injuries are attributed to them. […]
He said the bill won’t come up during fall veto session, but he is building support to potentially pass it in the spring session.
- Grimlock - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:05 am:
Regarding the digital coupons, I just recently started trying to use them at County Market. I couldn’t believe it when I opened the app and saw there were 749 coupons I would have to scroll through to see if there were any I wanted to use. I gave up after a few minutes.
- H-W - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:11 am:
Re: HB4189
It is an interesting proposition to suggest social institutions/organizations can determine how they will relate to government entities, and that those definitions will carry weight in the legal system.
I am not opposed by any stretch of the imagination. Here, we have professional and semi-professional workers who have sworn moral oaths to protect and serve consumers of their services, period. I wish the medical profession well in their attempt to define for the government that their obligations to their consumers should exceed and regulate the activities of law enforcement.
I am saying this because there was a time when churches has similar power, and could provide sanctuary to parishioners and lay people. There was a time when this social institution and its organizations were respected to the point that they too could define for government their obligations to their consumers, and that their obligation should exceed and regulate the activities of law enforcement.
Unfortunately, Christian Nationalism has taken hold, such that many churches are subservient to government, not the reverse. Churches have been legally defines as not sanctuaries. Indeed, some churches and lay leaders today are leaning toward serving the government interests directly.
In any case, I pray that the hospitals of Illinois will be successful in their goal of defining for the government and for law enforcement when and how they will interact with the legal system.
But it is just a bill.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:16 am:
For individuals with limited vision or seniors who may not be adept at using a device for digital coupons, this practice can limit a shopper’s opportunity for savings.
To avoid this digital shopping process, I shop at another store where prices are clearly stated and no gimmicks are a part of the process.
- Missy - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:31 am:
Great idea re digital or app based coupons. You shouldn’t have to give up your privacy to get a coupon.
- Chambanalyst - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:38 am:
Power infratstructure/grid needs investment or regulation. New power plants are going to be needed if IL wants to continue to attract data center business. The capEx spend from big tech is going to place enormous stress on the power supply unless the DCs are paired with some type of power solution.
- We've never had one before - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:53 am:
Curmudgeon’s Comments at large:
Health Care Sanctity and Privacy Law -
Battery Storage Technology saving money for the customers of Illinois: Never. Utility Companies still need more and more money over time, this is proven every time they have touted a savings.
Digital Coupons: Retailers are under no obligation to offer coupons of any kind. Beware the unintended consequence.
RIFL Act: That’s a great idea that should get extended to motor vehicles. Tax, er, license the manufacturers of vehicles that can be used in kidnapping, carjacking, vehicular manslaughter, human trafficking, and ice cream sales.
- Joseph M - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 10:57 am:
I think there are two things true about the Jewel coupon debate:
1. Stores should have the right to give exclusive coupons to app users. Users give them advertising/data that wouldn’t be obtainable with physical coupons. McDonald’s and every other businesses does the same thing.
2. Jewel’s app is so horribly dysfunctional that I’ve stopped giving them the benefit of the doubt, and can only conclude that they’re intentionally making it hard to get discounts. I used to be able to restart the app to get updated coupons, but on Monday it appeared that they changed the system to make it harder. For example, searching “pepper” didn’t direct me to the coupon for green peppers; I had to include the entire phrase “green pepper” which is a ridiculously easy problem for their developers to fix. I’m not sure if a state law is the solution here, but hopefully the extra scrutiny will prompt Jewel to get their act together.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:29 am:
Re: grocery store coupons:
I find it much easier to navigate the coupons on my laptop vs. my cell phone. For Jewel just click on “just for you” on their homepage and click the coupons you want.
For Marianos click “digital coupons” at the top of their home
page.
For both stores, just type the product into the search menu.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:34 am:
But won’t someone think of the poor corporations? How else will they be able to harvest massive amounts of data from you with their spyware apps if they can’t force you to install them to get the best prices?
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:36 am:
It is just not Jewel/Osco–I’ve never been able to get Kroger’s digital coupons to work. I’ve complained and was told “everyone” has the same problem.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:37 am:
My Mom was an avid coupon clipper. Saving 15 cents on Jello made her day. She would go to Jewel with a checklist and a fist full of coupons. Before they could scan coupons it took forever to check out but it was worth it to her.
- Liz - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:38 am:
Digital coupons are not additional discounts that stores are willfully depriving seniors and non-smartphone users of. They are the replacement for the manufacturer coupons that no longer come in the Sunday paper. Manufacturers make the choice to put those discounts in a coupon that requires work, in the same way as they made the choice in the past to make discounts available to coupon-clippers rather than reducing the price in general. It’s not about grocery stores’ decisions, however regrettable it is if one store or another has a glitchy app.
- Trinity - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:50 am:
1. Download the store’s app and coupons before you go. Believe me, I it will be 1000 times less stressful.
2.Open up the app before you walk in, Sometimes there’s coupons in the app they forget to put signs up for.
3. PRICE MATCH. Yes some places price match to the price ONLINE vs the in store.
4 YES you may have to log onto the store wifi. Use a separate email, this is where you’ll get all the store crap.
5. Don’t use any banking for credit card apps while on the WIFI disconnect on your way out
Jewel by far has one of the best apps with coupons, make sure you CLIP THEM. Lookout for those white coupons in store and scan with your phone.
For everwhere you go, USE THE SCANNER IN THE APP TO TRY TO PRICE MATCH. They’ll usually give you the cheaper price.
Hope this helps
- Terry Salad - Wednesday, Oct 29, 25 @ 11:52 am:
I am middle-aged and fairly adept with technology and I HATE the digital coupons. I have to juggle my phone, search for the correct “deal” and then enter my phone number. Why don’t they just give me the deals when I enter my number? Why do I have to stand and futz with my phone?