* Sen. Celina Villanueva…

State Senator Celina Villanueva is again calling for action after years of Senate work to protect homeowners from losing the equity in their homes through the property tax sale system. […]

In many cases, homeowners fall behind on relatively small tax debts — sometimes less than $1,000. Yet under the current system, if a home is sold at a tax sale, investors may keep the extra value of the property beyond what was owed. Families can lose the wealth they spent years building.

To give lawmakers time to fix the system, House Bill 598 would push the start date of the annual property tax sale process back from March 10 to Dec. 1, 2026. The delay would allow Illinois to address concerns with the Cook County property tax sale system and ensure homeowners’ rights are protected.

“This is about fairness, accountability and constitutional compliance,” Villanueva said. “We are standing up for our residents and ensuring our property tax code reflects both Supreme Court precedent and basic principles of justice.”

House Bill 598 passed the Senate on Thursday and heads to the governor’s desk.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Supporters of a long-awaited measure that would establish a board to review and regulate statewide prescription drug prices are hoping to gain momentum for the bill to pass this spring.

Contained in House Bill 1443 and Senate Bill 66, the measure would establish a Health Care Availability and Access Board with the power to review certain prescription drugs and set a maximum price if it finds that the given drug presents “affordability challenges”. […]

At a news conference held after the rally, bill sponsors Sen. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, and Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, pointed to a similar board established in Colorado as an example of how the board might function in Illinois. The Colorado board is the first in the country to set an upper payment limit, or UPL.

Having survived its first legal challenge, Colorado’s UPL is estimated to save consumers up to $32 million for that drug the first year after it takes effect.

Illinois’ board would similarly review certain types of prescription drugs, including expensive specialty drugs, drugs with sudden or extreme price increases, generic drugs that are similar in price to the name brand version and drugs suggested for review by the public.

* Daily Herald…

Saying it will increase public safety and infrastructure costs and change the aesthetics of their communities, leaders of several Northwest suburbs gathered Thursday to oppose Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to reduce local officials’ ability to control residential construction.

The proposed changes, which Pritzker unveiled during his recent State of the State address, address minimum lot sizes, residential density rules, parking requirements, inspections and other aspects of residential construction. They could increase development of apartments, condominiums, two-flats and other types of multifamily housing. […]

In a news conference at her community’s village hall, South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie urged state legislators to reject the package of bills that comprise Pritzker’s plan, some of which already have been introduced. Zoning regulations exist to support property owners, McCombie said, and these proposed changes would “strip away that local control.”

The minimum residential lot in nearby Barrington Hills — an upscale community where many residents keep horses on their properties — is five acres, and the land is full of riding trails. Forcing the village board to allow smaller lots or multifamily housing “will destroy our town,” Village President Brian Cecola said.

* Center Square…

A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers have introduced energy legislation to protect consumers from costs associated with the state’s planned phaseout of natural gas.

Saying Illinois will not meet its 2035 electrification goals if the state eliminates energy options before they are replaced, the Clean Energy Choice Coalition advocated for a package of energy legislation at the Illinois Capitol this week.

State Sen. Javier Cervantes, D-Chicago, said Senate Bill 3979 requires a thorough review of customer bill impacts before large-scale gas transition projects are approved and protects rate-payers from unfair cost increases and shifting. […]

State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said Senate Bill 4028 would have the Illinois Commerce Commission address outdated interconnection rules that lead to lengthy timelines and inconsistent costs for developers and businesses. […]

State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, introduced Senate Bill 3929 for an extension of Illinois’ clean energy timeline from 2050 to 2060.

* WAND…

Illinois lawmakers have reintroduced legislation aimed at protecting students by strengthening consequences for sexual assaults in schools.

Senate bill 2991 requires that any student who commits sexual assault or attempted sexual assault at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school, would be expelled for at least one year.

“Sexual assault has devastating emotional and psychological consequences for young people,” said State Senator Jil Tracy (R-Quincy). “This legislation makes clear that violent behavior in our schools will have serious consequences. Our responsibility is to protect victims and preserve safe learning environments.”

The legislation was proposed in response to an incident in State Senator Steve McClure’s (R-Springfield) district, where a young girl was sexually assaulted and the attacker was not expelled or suspended, despite admitting to the offense.

* WCIA…

Illinois lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled legislation aimed at expanding housing and support services for people leaving prison.

The initiative, called “Home for Good,” would create a coordinated reentry housing system overseen by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). […]

The ICJIA would be responsible for connecting returning residents to needed services such as healthcare, job training and transportation.

The measure would also establish the “Home for Good Institute” to provide training to community-based organizations developing reentry housing. […]

Research cited by the Home For Good coalition estimates the state could save a projected $477 million cost within the first three years of the program.

* Sen. Mary Edly-Allen…

State Senator Mary Edly-Allen is supporting a measure to help ensure the City of Zion can continue delivering critical property tax relief to residents while protecting millions of dollars in state funding.

House Bill 598 would make two key updates to the state’s property tax system, including a provision specifically designed to support Zion. […]

The bill would ensure that Zion can receive and use state funding from the Illinois Energy Community Reinvestment Act without lowering its future property tax capacity.

The Illinois Energy Community Reinvestment Act, signed in 2021, supports communities and workers affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. Without this fix, the city could lose access to nearly $20 million in funding meant to reduce the local tax burden.

Zion is uniquely eligible for this funding due to the decommissioning of its nuclear power plant and the continued storage of nuclear waste in the community. State law requires that most of these funds be used directly for property tax relief.

After the plant’s operation from 1973 to 1997, it was decommissioned in 2010, finishing in 2023. The closure caused significant economic hardship, including a 143% rise in property tax rates as the city lost a major taxpayer. […]

House Bill 598 passed the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the governor for further consideration.