* Capitol News Illinois…

The Senate Pensions Committee advanced a bill that would require local governments to establish a version of the state’s pension buyout program.

Senate Bill 3404, sponsored by state Sen. Rob Martwick, D-Chicago, passed on an agreed bill list, though some changes are expected to address concerns from the Illinois Municipal League, Martwick told Capitol News Illinois.

Under the proposal, local governments would need to establish a pension buyout program, and it would remain at their discretion whether and when it is offered. […]

The Senate Executive Committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 3449, a bill that specifies that anyone, including law enforcement, cannot take possession of a mobile device to verify the device owner’s identity if they use their device as identification cards.

* Center Square…

State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, said Illinois Senate Bill 2906 would give collective bargaining rights to transportation network drivers. […]

SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup told the Illinois Senate Labor Committee on Tuesday that SB 2906 would require rideshare companies to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement if organizers get support from 30% of active drivers. […]

Illinois Labor Relations Board Executive Director Kimberly Stevens told the committee that the bill’s 20-cent per ride administrative fee on riders would be an issue.

“That would come to the board to then create and administer grants back to the union out of that funding, which presents a conflict of interest for an agency that is supposed to be neutral,” Stevens said. […]

SB 2906 would also require the Illinois Labor Relations Board to collect driver information from their employers.

[Stevens] said her agency does not currently do data collection.

* Sen. Michael Hastings…

State Senator Michael E. Hastings is speaking out on the need for stronger oversight of Buy-Now-Pay-Later programs, a fast-growing form of short-term credit that allows consumers to pay for purchases in installments. [..]

Hastings advanced legislation that would require BNPL lenders to register with the state and provide full disclosures about repayment terms, interest rates and potential fees while maintaining fair and transparent dispute or refund processes. The legislation also would ensure consumers understand the total cost of borrowing and can make informed financial decisions.

The measure is intended to protect consumers while allowing responsible BNPL programs to operate fairly. Hastings emphasized that accountability and transparency are key to preventing abusive practices and promoting financial literacy across the state. […]

Senate Bill 3561 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

* WAND…

Her legislation could expand the current boundaries of the Springfield medical district from Madison Street to South Grand Avenue. It would also rename the Mid-Illinois Medical District to the Capital City Downtown Medical District.

"We've seen too many businesses come and go from downtown," Turner said. "It's past time we bring in much-needed economic development opportunities to bolster our community and breathe new life into this once buzzing central hub."

Senate Bill 2829 passed unanimously out of the Senate Local Government Committee Wednesday. It now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

* Sen. Rachel Ventura…

A new measure introduced by State Senator Rachel Ventura to establish the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board to investigate and advise on best practices for psilocybin treatments to help tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as PTSD passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

“I remain committed to passing the CURE Act in its entirety and providing real change for individuals who have exhausted other treatment methods,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This bill is an important first step in that effort and will provide legislators with essential research on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic use in therapeutic treatments.” […]

The measure led by Ventura this year – Senate Bill 2772 – would implement a part of the CURE Act, establishing the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The board would advise on a training program, ethical standards and licensing requirements as it related to psilocybin. During a two-year program development period, the board would issue recommendations for health and safety regulations to agencies tasked with regulating psilocybin production and use. Ventura remains committed to passing the CURE Act in its entirety at a later date. […]

Senate Bill 2772 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday and now heads to the full Senate for further action.

* WQAD…

A bill sponsored by State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, would allow retired teachers to work additional paid hours as substitutes. It recently passed the Illinois Senate Education Committee, and proponents say it could help address ongoing teacher shortages across the state.
Senate Bill 2953 would extend the sunset on a provision allowing retired teachers to work up to 120 days or 600 hours per school year without affecting their pension benefits, giving schools more flexibility to fill gaps in classrooms and substitute positions. […]

SB 2953 now awaits further consideration in the Senate. If passed, it would allow retired teachers to work additional hours as substitutes through June 30, 2029, an increase from the current sunset of June 30, 2026.

* More…

* Press release | Castro fights for improved charter school oversight: Senate Bill 4040 would automatically transfer any state-authorized charter school located outside of the geographical area of a school district back to the local school board or boards. The vast majority of charter schools in Illinois are locally authorized – meaning they apply directly for authorization with their local school board. The other nine are state-run charter schools with ten campuses total. State-run charter schools apply for authorization through the Illinois State Board of Education rather than their local school board. Because current law does not allow school board oversight of state-run charter schools, Castro’s legislation aims to provide this mechanism for the local community.

* Capitol City Now | IL plan could help municipalities lower speed limits in urban areas: “If they decide that they want their entire municipality to go from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour and the roads that are there are able to do that, they are welcome to do that,” Goldstein said. “But if they want to do just one stretch, then they can do that too.” Senate Bill 3374 passed unanimously out of the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday. It now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

* WAND | Downcoding transparency bill heads to IL Senate floor: This proposal states that doctors should make all decoding decisions, and insurance companies would be required to notify providers if a service is downcoded. It would also ban insurers from downcoding in a discriminatory manner against doctors who routinely treat patients with complex health conditions. “The problem is assistance they are using tend to only look at the final diagnosis,” said Erin O’Brien from the Illinois State Medical Society. “They are basing the payment of the physician based on the final diagnosis. They are not paying us what they negotiated with us pursuant to the contracts that we negotiated in good faith.”

* Press release | Stadelman measure to strengthen transparency of digital product sales: Senate Bill 2822 protects consumers in online marketplaces by making it unlawful for a digital seller to offer for sale or advertise digital goods using the terms “buy,” “purchase,” or other similar terms without making available a clear disclosure, including a list of restrictions and conditions, which may include an affirmative acknowledgment from the consumer.