* Subscribers know much more. Center Square…
A controversial abortion proposal from State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, is drawing sharp reactions across Illinois, exposing divisions among Republicans and advocacy groups over how far the state’s pro-life movement should go.
Anderson’s bill, SB3572, would treat harm to or the death of an unborn child the same as that of a born person under Illinois homicide and assault laws, applying the same criminal standards and potentially allowing murder charges, at a prosecutor’s discretion.
The Illinois Family Institute supports the bill, with executive director David Smith saying it reflects the belief that life begins at conception and deserves full legal protection. […]
Some Republicans don’t agree. Former Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore publicly criticized the bill, calling it extreme and warning it could damage broader pro-life efforts.
…Adding… Darren Bailey wants Anderson to pull the bill…
Former State Senator and candidate for Governor, Darren Bailey, is issuing the following statement on Senate Bill 3572.
“When women and families are facing a crisis, they need understanding, support, and real help, not the threat of jail time. Criminalizing women in these situations doesn’t solve problems, it deepens hurt and pushes people away from the alternatives and support that could help them.
We should be leading with compassion and practical solutions that strengthen families and build trust. I am pro-life, but I believe we also have to face reality: approaches like this pull people away and make it harder to move Illinois forward. I urge Senator Neil Anderson to pull this legislation.”
Another bill from Sen. Anderson, SB 3892, would reinstate the death penalty for first-degree murder and other offenses. Combined with his abortion legislation, the proposals could subject women who receive abortions, as well as those who assist or perform them, to capital punishment. Sen. Anderson is the sole sponsor of both bills. [From Rich: The same punishments would also apply to IVF procedures.]
…Adding… Sen. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett)…
“Every legislator has the right to file legislation they believe aligns with the priorities in their districts, but as a lawmaker, I have a responsibility to evaluate bills and support the positions of my constituents. I have read the full text of Senate Bill 3572, and believe the penalties offered in this bill are too extreme. They do not provide adequate protections, guardrails, and empathy for victims and women making one of the most difficult choices of their lives.”
* CBS Chicago…
Action in Springfield this week could jumpstart the seemingly stalled negotiations between the Chicago Bears and Illinois state lawmakers on a deal to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
Legislation that would allow the Bears — or developers of any other Illinois project costing at least $500 million — to negotiate their property taxes with local governments is set for its first public hearing on Thursday, just as competition from Indiana heats up.
The hearing on House Bill 2789, which the Bears have said is vital to their plans to build in Arlington Heights, comes three years after the team bought the 326-acre site of the former Arlington Park racetrack for $197 million.
Known as the Mega Project Assessment Freeze and Payment Law, the legislation would essentially allow the Bears to work with local governments to lock in how much the team would pay in property taxes for the site for years to come.
More from the Daily Herald…
[T]alks are happening now almost daily, according to Rep. Mary Beth Canty, the Arlington Heights Democrat who is sponsor of the Bears-backed legislation.
“You are definitely seeing positive signs of movement,” said Canty, whose 54th District includes the 326-acre shuttered racecourse property. “You’re seeing people that are moving with a purpose. They are moving quickly, but still in a way that is smart and methodical.” […]
Canty said Thursday seems “soon” for a vote at the committee level, considering the still-ongoing negotiations taking place behind the scenes. But public discussion by legislators and testimony from witnesses is likely, and more committee hearings can be scheduled, she added.
Canty said she would be surprised if the Bears stadium isn’t a topic during the governor’s address Wednesday.
Rep. Canty said this morning she has not yet spoken with committee chair Rep. Curtis Tarver about calling the bill, but said they are expected to connect in person today. Rep. Tarver did not respond to a request for comment.
* WTVO…
Illinois lawmakers are considering a major change to the state’s drunk driving laws, one that would make the threshold for impairment one of the strictest in the nation.
House Bill 4333 would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for a DUI from 0.08 to 0.05, and would govern driving, boating, snowmobiling, and even workplace injury claims.
Utah is currently the only other state with a 0.05 limit.
The proposal, filed by Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59th), updates the Illinois Vehicle Code by replacing every “0.08” reference with “0.05,” effectively creating a single standard for nearly all motor-vehicle offenses.
* Sun-Times…
Sweeping voting rights legislation emerged Thursday to strengthen the hands of Illinois judges to take control of disputes over redistricting and give expanded safeguards to non-English speaking voters.
The bill sponsored by state Sen. Graciela Guzman, D-Chicago, would codify much of the federal Voting Rights Act into state law as insurance in case that law is repealed by Republicans in Congress. If passed, the changes to state law would take effect July 1 ahead of November’s general election.
“The last year has made one thing remarkably clear: Democracy does not run on autopilot,” she said. “It only survives if people are willing to protect it, and at the center of that responsibility is a fundamental right to vote.”
The bill would specifically grant judges the ability to redraw racially imbalanced legislative maps and require that non-English-speaking voters receive translated ballots, access to bilingual poll workers, or over-the-phone non-English assistance, among other things.
* Sen. Kimberly Lightford…
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford and State Representative Carol Ammons will be joined by a number of higher education leaders at a press conference Tuesday to discuss their plan to transform how Illinois funds its higher education system.
WHO: Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, State Senator Mike Halpin, State Representatives Carol Ammons and Norma Hernandez, as well as Southern Illinois University President Daniel Mahony, and a representative from Advance Illinois, the Partnership for College Completion Student Board, and a student from Eastern Illinois University
WHAT: Press conference to call for the passage of the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Formula
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Illinois State Capitol, 2nd Floor Grand Staircase.
* Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants…
Current laws are preventing PAs (physician assistants/associates) from practicing to the full extent of their education, training, and experience – at a time when more than 3.5 million Illinois residents live in areas with significant provider shortages.
Modernized PA practice laws will help Illinois meet growing patient demands while maintaining high standards of safety and quality.
And Illinois’ patients agree: 90% believe that PAs should be allowed to provide care to the fullest extent of their education, training, and experience.
On Tuesday, February 17, Senator Cervantes, healthcare providers, students, patients, and the Illinois Academy of Physician Associates (IAPA) will host a press conference at the State Capitol to call on lawmakers to address Illinois’ healthcare shortage crisis through SB 3421, which would remove outdated PA practice barriers to improve healthcare access.
This is a unique opportunity for legislators and media to hear directly from the bill sponsor, practicing providers, future clinicians, and real patients about the importance of SB 3421, the role of PAs in improving healthcare delivery in the state, and the critical need to increase healthcare access for Illinois’ patients.
What: Press conference urging support for legislation to modernize PA practice laws
When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: State Capitol Blue Room, 401 S. 2nd St., Springfield, IL 62701
* More…
* WCIA | Clean Jobs Coalition presents new legislation aimed at regulating Illinois data centers: The Clean Jobs Coalition presented new legislation this week aimed at regulating data centers in Illinois, according to Andrew Rehn, director of Climate Policy at Prairie Rivers Network in Champaign. Rehn said the goal of the POWER Act is minimizing the impact of data centers on utility costs for consumers. It will require data centers to pay for their own electrical infrastructure, according to Rehn.
* Center Square | IL lawmaker intros bill to regulate third-party lawsuit investing: Amid a growing push nationwide for new laws to regulate the booming business of third-party lawsuit investing, a state lawmaker has introduced legislation in Springfield in a bid to bring greater transparency to the practice in Illinois, as well. State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, filed HB5244 in the Illinois state House of Representatives.
* Center Square | Illinois senator offers 401(k)-style option to escape $145 billion pension crisis: An Illinois state senator is pushing a sweeping but voluntary change to the state’s pension system that would allow public employees, including teachers, to opt out of traditional pensions in favor of a market-based retirement plan similar to a 401(k). Bill sponsor state Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Channahon, described the proposal as an expansion of an option that already exists for university professors in Illinois, who currently have access to market-based retirement plans.
- Captain Obvious - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:09 am:
I thought Democrats were all about making billionaires pay their fair share of taxes. Yet the Democrat super majority in our legislature is going to pass a law that will allow billionaires to pay far less than their fair share of property taxes. The hypocrisy is off the charts here.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:10 am:
=Legislation that would allow the Bears — or developers of any other Illinois project costing at least $500 million — to negotiate their property taxes with local governments=
I would love this. The billionaire family could then negotiate a HIGHER property tax rate rather than lower.
another take is that democrats who are always decrying the wealthy are now voting specific tax breaks for the wealthy that the rest of us cannot receive? Pick a frickin lane. Sheesh.
- Joseph M - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:12 am:
“Combined with his abortion legislation, the proposals could subject women who receive abortions, as well as those who assist or perform them, to capital punishment.”
Ridiculous.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:22 am:
==Illinois senator offers 401(k)-style option to escape $145 billion pension crisis:==
First of all, it’s not a crisis. Second of all, you would have to have a massive number of people withdraw their pensions and put them into a 401K to have any sort of impact.
- suburban mom 2 - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:25 am:
1 in 4 women has had an abortion by the time she is aged 45. But sure, let’s lead with making this a capital crime. Surely this is a path to victory in a system that requires consent of the governed.
Idiots.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:25 am:
Senator Anderson’s abortion bill is absolutely ridiculous and even more so in that it also applies to IVF. It’s also a complete and utter waste of time in Illinois. And do Republicans really want to make abortion an issue in the election? That is a losing argument in Illinois and guaranteed to lose them votes. I suspect most Republicans won’t step within a mile of this legislation. It’s as extreme as you can get.
- *ducks* - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:26 am:
The Daily Herald really ran out front of the PILOT legislation’s prospects. Motion doesn’t always equal movement.
- Jack in Chatham - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:37 am:
HB 4333 Lowering the blood alcohol content for driving under the influence was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board in 2009. Utah put this on the books effective December 31, 2017 and experienced a 44% reduction in alcohol related vehicle crashes and a 19% reduction in alcohol related crash deaths. I wish it included lowering the blood alcohol content for commercial drivers to .03 as well. Hope this gets passed. People are pretty gassed at .08.
- BE - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:49 am:
States with abortion bans are already going after women who have miscarriages. I wonder if Sen. Anderson would be ‘happy’ with just life in prison for a woman who miscarried, or whether he would call for her death as well?
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 10:50 am:
“the legislation would essentially allow the Bears to work with local governments to lock in how much the team would pay in property taxes for the site for years to come.”
Works for me. So long as the local governments and the property owners are the only once with seats at the table (no non-recipients of property tax proceeds) and that a negotiation impasse results in base rate taxes, go for it. Let municipalities and school districts work with their constituents. So long as it doesn’t affect anyone outside of the municipal districts, make it a law.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:04 am:
==Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Formula==
Is this another education funding study that completely ignores what we’re spending on pensions?
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:13 am:
I think the Bears should be able to negotiate their property taxes when I am able to negotiate my property taxes.
They bought the property then turned around to say it wasn’t worth what they paid for it, and consequently should not pay based on the value of the property. That is infuriating.
- Think Again - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:14 am:
=HB4333…Utah is currently the only other state with a 0.05 limit=
Thankfully, we aint Utah
- Harrison - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:19 am:
You don’t sound so friendly today Bob
Are you planning on doing a couple billion dollars in improvements to your property that will attract hundreds of thousands of people spending big money over the next few decades?
The Bears will be Hiring thousands of people for permanent and temporary jobs and those jobs will go to Indiana if the legislature doesn’t pass this bill.
That would be infuriating.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:27 am:
==that completely ignores what we’re spending on pensions==
You love to make that argument. Totally irrelevant.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:32 am:
.05 Si.
401(k) No.
- yinn - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 11:36 am:
I’ve not heard of third-party lawsuit “investing” before today, but it sounds corrupting. Thanks to Rep. Ugaste for his work on this.
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
I thought state and local governments were forbidden from offering 401(k)s to employees. Shouldn’t the alternative investment option be Deferred Comp (457), maybe requring pension opt-outers to contribute at least 10-15% per paycheck to Deferred Comp (the regular deferred comp, not the Roth 457 option).
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 12:24 pm:
Any man who impregnates a woman without the benefit of marriage she be charged with rape and castrated on on the courthouse steps
I am planing to run for a GOP seat next time around and want to get in good with them.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 12:41 pm:
===Combined with his abortion legislation, the proposals could subject women who receive abortions, as well as those who assist or perform them, to capital punishment===
I wonder how many of us have an uncle and a grandfather who are staunchly pro-life that would be guilty of a death penalty offense for paying for an abortion.
===Illinois’ pension systems carry roughly $145 billion in unfunded liabilities, a figure Balkema said underscores the need for structural reform.
He argues the proposal could reduce long-term risk for taxpayers while still honoring the state’s existing pension obligations.===
Not mentioned: The State Senator’s plan to travel back in time to the 1980s to make market based investments in 401ks in order to prevent the unfunded pension liabilities we face today.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 12:51 pm:
==in improvements to your property==
When I improve my property my property taxes go up. You seem to want to give them a pass just because they are a professional sports team. As long as you give a pass to everyone improving their properties then I guess that’s an ok opinion to have.
==That would be infuriating.==
Only if your life revolves around keeping a professional sports team at any cost.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
==You love to make that argument. Totally irrelevant.==
2.2 billion dollars of irrelevance.
If those higher ed folks don’t want their pensions.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 1:05 pm:
=The Bears will be Hiring thousands of people for permanent and temporary jobs and those jobs will go to Indiana if the legislature doesn’t pass this bill.=
If that is true the opposite is also true. Many people will lose their jobs due to the move. But sure, let’s do more wealthy socialism.
- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 1:07 pm:
As someone who works in the private sector with only a 401(K): why the hell would anyone with a pension choose a 401(K)?
- Jerry - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 1:07 pm:
The Moochers can’t afford to build the stadium. Then move to Indiana or Iowa. Let those dates give away trillions in free handouts to a for-profit, privately owned corporation. The games will still be pay per view on the TV.
- sulla - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 1:13 pm:
Kind of nuts that this legislature raised the age of mandatory road tests for the elderly up to 87 years old and is now considering a .05 BAC law.
My most recent near-death experience was a blue hair who could barely see over the steering wheel of her Buick blowing through a blinking red light 4-way stop at 55mph. It certainly wasn’t someone who had two drafts at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
===and is now considering===
It’s just a bill. And it has only one co-sponsor so far. The “legislature” isn’t really considering anything yet.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
=== As someone who works in the private sector with only a 401(K): why the hell would anyone with a pension choose a 401(K)? ===
Nobody that understands the difference would pick a 401(k) over even a Tier 2 pension.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 2:17 pm:
Darren Bailey got on board really fast opposing Sen. Anderson’s bill. He doesn’t want that issue anywhere near his campaign because it’s a losing issue.
- Jack in Chatham - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 2:25 pm:
Sulla, you have to be a tiny person with an empty stomach to blow .05 on two beers. They would need to be high alcohol content beers.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 2:31 pm:
==The Bears will be Hiring thousands of people for permanent and temporary jobs and those jobs will go to Indiana if the legislature doesn’t pass this bill.==
And if you believe that, I’ve got a horse track in Arlington Heights to sell ya.
- Unionman - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 4:23 pm:
This is all a means for Anderson to artificially increase the population. If embryos are people, then they should count towards the census, we then can artificially increase the number of Illinoisans and increase our representation in Congress (or potentially increase the number of republican leaning districts in Illinois-although would they be counted based on the storage site or the parents location). Of course that would also mean that I can take my frozen embryos and seek a child tax credit for each as dependents.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 5:25 pm:
If Illinois switched to a 401(k)-based retirement system, where would the money for the employer Social Security contribution (6.2%) come from? And, when the employee paychecks are reduced by an extra 6.2% they will want that much on top of any raise they bargain for (it’s not like a lot of workers can take a 6.2% hit to their paycheck).
A simple solution that is neither.
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Feb 17, 26 @ 9:10 pm:
- It certainly wasn’t someone who had two drafts at Buffalo Wild Wings. -
You’re right…the alcohol impaired driver may have been going way faster… regardless of hair color.