* Sun-Times…

State Sens. John Curran (R-Downers Grove), Steve McClure (R-Springfield), and Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills) are pushing four different bills addressing rising domestic violence in Illinois. At a press conference Thursday, Dakota Sebring, a survivor of repeated domestic abuse, joined the lawmakers to share her struggles in getting legal help to deal with an abuser. […]

McClure’s bill would raise the classification of a violated court order from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Hills introduced legislation that would increase the sentence for a violated court order from 24 hours to 48. A subsequent violation would mean a a 96-hour sentence. Another bill Hills proposed echoes McClure’s, increasing the violation of a protection order to a felony if the perpetrator has any history of violating protection orders.

Curran’s bill would require the abuser to prove that they pose no threat to society in order to obtain pre-trial release. Currently, the victim is responsible for proving that an alleged abuser is a threat to them or others before that individual can be kept in pre-trial custody.

* Rep. Fred Crespo has introduced a bill to change how Illinois Supreme Court vacancies are filled. You might remember Rich wrote last month about how justices tend to retire mid-term and basically pick their own replacements. The synopsis…

Amends the Judicial Districts Act of 2021 and the Judicial Vacancies Act. Provides that if a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court, an appointment must be made as provided in the Act to fill that vacancy for the remainder of that justice’s term of office. Creates a judicial nomination commission to be comprised of the following members: (1) one nonlawyer appointed by the Governor who will serve as chair of the commission; (2) one nonlawyer appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) one nonlawyer appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (4) one nonlawyer appointed by the Speaker of the House; (5) one nonlawyer appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; (6) one nonlawyer appointed by the Attorney General; and (7) 5 lawyers to elected by secret ballot by the members of the Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, and Will County Bar Association. Provides that the judicial nomination commission is to review, investigate, and nominate to the Governor a list of 3 applicants to fill each vacancy, and the Governor will then appoint one of the 3 applicants to fill that vacancy for the remainder of the vacating justice’s term. Requires that any vacancy must be filled by a member of the same political party as the vacating justice’s political party.

* US Senate candidate Don Tracy…

Illinois State Representative Regan Deering has introduced legislation that would bring Illinois in line with the federal “No Tax on Tips” provision, allowing workers who earn tips to keep more of the money they work so hard for at a time when the cost-of-living continues to skyrocket.

U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy expressed his support for the bill, saying:

“Illinois working families are doing everything right: showing up, working hard, and serving their communities, yet Illinois Democrats continue to take more and more out of their paychecks. Rep. Deering’s ‘No Tax on Tips’ bill is common sense legislation that would help workers pay their bills, feed their families, and get ahead. Illinois should not be punishing work.”

Under the proposal, Illinois would adopt the federal provision already in effect across most of the country. Currently, Illinois remains an outlier, one of only eight states continuing to tax tip income, while families struggle with record-high utility bills, rising housing costs, and expensive groceries. Tracy’s opponents opposed the bill providing this and other tax breaks helping make life more affordable for working families.

* Daily Herald…

Imagine the worst, most painful and most humiliating episode of your life gone viral, captured on video and spread across the internet to provoke laughter and derision from more than a million viewers. […]

According to [Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick Kreis], the content creators scan an online police blotter for potentially salacious reports. They often deploy AI bots programmed to search for phrases like “intoxicated female” or descriptions of young women in revealing attire. […]

Among the measures before lawmakers is House Bill 3515, which would allow police to deny video requests from internet sites and social media channels “that post law enforcement videos in exchange for compensation based on the number of views.”

The measure carves out an exception for news media, and Kreis said police would not be able to withhold video from “flagged events.” Those include encounters leading to a citizen complaint, a shooting or other use of force, a nontraffic arrest or an incident involving death or serious injury. […]

[Aisha Davis, senior policy counsel for the ACLU of Illinois,] said the group also has concerns about how the legislation could limit access to newsworthy bodycam footage for non-traditional media outlets, such as blogs.

* Sen. Karina Villa…

To protect Illinois’ essential services from looming cuts in federal funding, State Senator Karina Villa introduced legislation that would establish a billionaire wealth tax in Illinois.

“Budgets are moral documents – they show us who is prioritized and who is left behind,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “In this moment, families across Illinois are wondering where their next meal will come from. We cannot continue to balance our budget on the backs of working people while the ultra-wealthy receive tax breaks from federal government and exploit loopholes in our state tax code.”

Currently, the income tax system largely focuses on wages rather than overall change in financial resources, allowing the wealthiest individuals to avoid paying taxes on massive increases in wealth. Senate Bill 3376 would address this inequality by applying Illinois’ personal income tax to the appreciation of billionaires’ assets. […]

Senate Bill 3376 awaits to be assigned to a committee.

* WTVO…

An Illinois lawmaker is seeking to reverse a statewide protection on rooftop solar projects, introducing a measure that would allow cities and villages to restrict or even ban rooftop solar installations.

Senate Bill 3450, introduced Thursday by Sen. David Koehler (D-46th), would remove language in the Illinois Municipal Code that currently forbids municipalities from adopting rules that “prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting” solar energy systems.

Instead, the bill would give local governments the authority to regulate or block solar panels as part of their zoning ordinances.

Under the proposal, cities could apply those rules for up to 1.5 miles outside their zoning areas.

* Meanwhile, in Indiana…

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston is throwing his weight behind the state Legislature’s efforts to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State.

The Fishers Republican will be the House sponsor of Senate 27 — which creates a framework for a state-owned stadium in which the Bears would play — showing his strong support of Indiana’s push for a second NFL franchise.

On Thursday, Huston told reporters he will spend the weekend in northwest Indiana to talk with local officials about the legislation and ways to make finances work.

“I am now the sponsor on that bill, if that tells you my interest in getting it done,” Huston said. “We’ll do everything we can. I think it’s an incredible economic opportunity for northwest Indiana and for the state of Indiana and hopefully we’ll be moving something forward soon.”

More from WGN…

Some say both sides could complete a deal done before February ends. But the best deal for the Bears remains in Illinois, says State Representative Kam Buckner, who is resolute in his belief that the team will stay in their home state. […]

Said Buckner: “I understand what Indiana has kicked out. I’ll also say that legislation only creates the ability to build a sports facility authority. We had that 40 years ago, and so I think Indiana is playing catch-up in many ways, and we just need to have more conversations.” […]

In a letter to fans in December, Bears CEO Kevin Warren said the Indiana deal is not just leverage or a negotiating tactic. Buckner added that he talks with Warren regularly and remains confident the Bears will stay in Illinois.