* Daily Herald…

A Schaumburg family whose daughter inspired Illinois’ Ashley’s Law to retain access to her seizure-preventing medical marijuana in school is now facing losing it altogether when their current supply runs out in a week.

But both federal and state legislators have offered Maureen and Jim Surin hope of a solution for 19-year-old Ashley now that the patches are no longer made in Illinois and bringing them from neighboring states is illegal. […]

[Maureen] said Illinois State Rep. Bob Morgan of Deerfield and State Sen. Cristina Castro of Elgin have also reached out to help. […]

Morgan has filed House Bill 4306, which would require all Illinois dispensaries to carry medical marijuana and create a patient reporting portal to notify the state of inadequate supply, according to his Outreach Director Dominik Bronakowski.

Though not an interstate commerce law, the bill addresses another of the Surins’ top wishes for reform, Maureen said.

* Rep. Yolanda Morris filed HB4369 last week…

Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Ratifies and approves the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows for the issuance of multistate licenses that allow nurses to practice in their home state and other compact states. In provisions concerning an application for a license, provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may establish, by rule, fees to be charged for the purpose of implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Act, including the fees necessary to implement the Nurse Licensure Compact. Provides that, on or after the effective date of the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Department may set the required fees to apply for a multistate license, upgrade from a single state license to a multistate license, and renew a multistate license. Provides that the initial application fee for a multistate license shall be no less than $150 and the biennial multistate license renewal fee shall be no less than $125. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact does not supersede existing State labor laws. Provides that the State may not share with or disclose to the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators or any other state any of the contents of a nationwide criminal history records check conducted for the purpose of multistate licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact. Provides that an employer who employs nurses, as defined in the Article, shall provide the nurses under its employment with the opportunity to obtain the required continuing education hours. Requires that nurses subject to the Nurse Licensure Compact complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per every 2-year license renewal cycle. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse. Adds provisions concerning employer attestations.

* HB4366 from Rep. Hoan Huynh…

Creates the Billionaire Hedge Fund Fee Act. Imposes a fee on each covered transaction occurring on or after July 1, 2026. Provides that the amount of the fee shall be the base amount with respect to the covered transaction, multiplied by 0.002. Provides that the term “covered transaction” means: (1) the purchase by a United States person of a security if the purchase occurs on, or is subject to the rules of, the Chicago Board Options Exchange or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; or (2) the purchase by a United States person of a derivative if the derivative is traded on, or is subject to the rules of, the Chicago Board Options Exchange or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Specifies that, for purposes of the Act, “United States person” includes controlled foreign corporations, hedge funds, and private equity funds and their officers and employees. Exempts from the provisions of the Act the purchase of a security or a derivative by an individual for that individual’s personal investment account or personal investment portfolio. Provides that the proceeds from the tax imposed under the Act shall be deposited into the Reducing the Cost of Living Fund. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants emergency rulemaking powers to the Department of Revenue. Amends the State Finance Act. Create the Reducing the Cost of Living Fund. Effective immediately.

Rep. Huynh is currently running for congress in the 9th Congressional District.

* Click here for some more background. NBC Chicago…

Nearly six years ago Illinois lawmakers granted Hawthorne Race Course in southwest suburban Stickney the rights to build a casino at the track, and they also received veto power to turn down other tracks within a 35 mile radius of Hawthorne.

However, the ‘racino’ has yet to come to fruition. […]

[Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association President Jeff Davis] pointed to House Bill [2724], which he hopes will be called in the next House session, as a lifeline for the industry.

In part, it would take away the exclusivity of Hawthorne’s veto power to pave a path for other companies to build a race track in the area.

“It’s not an immediate fix, we still have to rely on Hawthorne for the near future, but it puts us on the right path going forward,” he said. “If we want to save this industry they need to pass that bill.”

* Last week, the Illinois Water Justice Coalition and Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation sent a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker urging him to support using the Medicaid 1115 waiver to fund lead-reducing water filters for Medicaid households…

I’m writing to you on behalf of the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL). IEC is a statewide network of over 130 organizations and 500 individuals, working to advance public policies that protect Illinois’ people, plants and animals, and the natural systems we all depend on. SOUL is an independent grassroots, multissue, power organization that addresses community issues on Chicago’s South Side and South Suburbs. We respectfully urge your administration to pursue and support the use of Illinois’ Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver to provide lead-reducing water filters to Medicaid-eligible households with lead service water lines.

Lead exposure remains a silent public health crisis in Illinois, especially in communities that have borne the weight of both disinvestment and environmental racism. Illinois has more lead service lines than any other state in the nation, and the majority of those lines are concentrated in low-income, Black, and Latino communities. These are the same communities that have long faced higher risks of chronic disease, barriers to care, and other cumulative environmental burdens. Expanding the Illinois Medicaid 1115 Waiver to cover lead-reducing filters is a practical, immediate action that would:

● Reduce lead exposure in the most vulnerable homes, particularly where children and expectant mothers live, without waiting years for full lead service line replacement.

● Deliver environmental justice in real, tangible terms by prioritizing investment in the communities most impacted by environmental harm.

● Offer a proven, low-cost public health intervention, aligned with CDC and EPA guidance on preventing lead exposure.

● Supplement lead service line replacement efforts, giving families protection now, while infrastructure work remains underway.

A modest investment today will yield dramatic cost savings later. The medical costs associated with untreated lead exposure, including cognitive impairments, behavioral issues, cardiovascular impacts, pregnancy complications, and long-term chronic illness, far exceed the cost of providing certified water filtration devices. According to a study by Environmental Health Perspectives, every dollar spent on lead exposure prevention is estimated to return at least $17–$221 in future savings, depending on the model. This is precisely the type of preventive, equity-driven use of Medicaid that Section 1115 waivers were designed to support.

IEC and SOUL believe strongly that no child in Illinois should have to wait years for clean water simply because they live in a low-income household or a neighborhood with aging infrastructure. By leveraging Medicaid resources, Illinois can lead the nation in pairing environmental justice with innovative health policy, ensuring that those most at risk receive the strongest protection.

* WTVO…

New legislation introduced in the Illinois House would require sex offenders to register ownership of a drone.

Rep. Katie Stuart (D-112th) introduced HB4332 this week. The bill would amend the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act and require sex offenders register drone ownership, including make and model, with the Illinois State Police.

Individuals on the Sex Offender Registry are already required to give authorities a current photograph, address, employer, phone number, email addresses, and instant messaging identities, and identities related to all other Internet communications.

* ABC Chicago…

There is confusion over Illinois’ new squatter law, after it went into effect last week. […]

One property owner thought she could finally have the alleged squatters removed from her home. But, on Friday, she learned it’s not that simple. […]

[Property owner Mary Welch] said, ultimately, police informed her there was nothing they could do. That’s when she learned about the new squatter law going into effect Jan. 1. […]

[Rep. La Shawn Ford] says he’ll be addressing this in Springfield.

“Talking to Chicago PD and the alderman, we know there’s work that needs to be done to improve this law,” he said. “Today is an example of us needing to do more with law enforcement to educate them on what the intent of the law is.”