* Daily Herald…

With the approach of the second anniversary of 17-year-old Marin Lacson’s death at a Barrington railroad crossing, a proposed legislation named in her honor would mandate pedestrian safety gates at crossings near schools in Illinois.

MARIN’s Law, which would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to require railroad carriers to install, operate and maintain the gates at railroad-grade crossings within 1.5 miles of a school, was filed Thursday.

Lacson was struck and killed by a Metra train on the morning of Jan. 25, 2024, while crossing the tracks at Hough Street on the way to Barrington High School. She proceeded across the tracks after one train had already passed.

There are no pedestrian gates at the crossing. The Illinois Commerce Commission is currently considering a petition to install the gates at three Union Pacific crossings, including Hough Street.

MARIN stands for Measures Against Railroad Injuries Near Schools. It was filed Thursday in honor of Lacson’s lacrosse jersey number, according to a press release announcing the filing.

* Rep. Maurice West filed HB4531 this week…

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall exercise the powers to impose campaign disclosure penalties; to hear and adjudicate alleged violations of registration requirements; to revoke or suspend the raffle licenses of political committees that violate the Raffles and Poker Runs Act; and to inform the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney of credible alleged criminal violations.

* HB4544 from Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado…

Creates the Preventing Algorithmic Pricing Discrimination Act. Requires any person who knowingly advertises, promotes, labels, or publishes a statement, display, image, offer, or announcement of personalized algorithmic pricing using consumer data specific to a particular individual must disclose that this price was set by an algorithm using the individual’s personal data. Prohibits the use of algorithmic pricing under certain conditions. Provides that if there is a violation of the Act, the Attorney General may file a civil action requesting that an injunction be issued against the defendant to enjoin and restrain the continuance of the violation. Provides that notice must be given to the defendant of not less than 5 days, and the court may issue an injunction enjoining and restraining any further violation without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged. Authorizes the court to impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Exempts any insurer licensed, regulated, or otherwise authorized to do business in the State or any excess lines insurer, including any persons, agents, or affiliates acting on behalf of the insurer. Exempts financial services, including, but not limited to, financial institutions, financial institution affiliates, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors, and entities that provide consumer credit products such as credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes a violation of the Preventing Algorithmic Pricing Discrimination Act an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Limits home rule.

* Meanwhile… In Iowa…

An Iowa Republican lawmaker wants to pursue a study on absorbing counties in Illinois, where a secessionist movement has grown fueled by divisions over the Prairie State’s policy direction.

A proposal from Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, House File 2141, would establish an “Iowa-Illinois boundary adjustment committee” to consider whether to move the dividing line between the two states by transferring one or more Illinois counties along the Iowa border to the Hawkeye State.

Collins said the bill would primarily look at all counties that along the Mississippi River.

“As somebody that represents really a district that’s right along the border and along the Mississippi River, I know many folks on both sides of the river, and I know there’s a lot of folks in the high-tax state of Illinois that’s now basically supporting career criminals,” Collins said. “They would love to be Iowa residents, and many of them have taken the steps to actually move to the state of Iowa.” […]

Under Collins’ bill, the boundary adjustment study committee would be made up of:

- Six individuals from the state of Iowa who are not lawmakers or appointees of the governor.
- No more than four members of the same political party.
- Five individuals from Illinois appointed under Illinois state law.

Any redrawing of the border would require approval by the Illinois and Indiana legislatures, as well as Congress. So… this is not going to happen.