* WAND…
[A] measure would require circuit court clerks to send two reminder text messages to people on pretrial release before their required court dates. It also states that clerks must keep a copy of the message and a delivery receipt within their records.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said academic research shows a simple text can significantly reduce “no shows” in court. […]
The Illinois Association of Court Clerks opposes the plan, but the organization has told Cassidy they are willing to work on amended language.
This bill passed out of the House Judiciary Criminal Committee on a partisan 8-5 vote Wednesday night. It now moves to the House floor for further consideration.
* Rep. Bob Morgan…
As Illinois families continue to face rising costs and economic uncertainty, Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) has reintroduced legislation aimed at eliminating deceptive “junk fees” - hidden or misleading charges that only appear at the point of sale, mask the true price of goods and services, and disadvantage honest businesses that advertise transparent pricing. The legislation, HB228, would require businesses to clearly disclose the full price of products and services before consumers reach the point of sale. […]
The legislation would require businesses to advertise the full price of goods and services upfront, prohibiting the addition of mandatory fees that are not clearly disclosed at the time a price is first presented to consumers. By ensuring transparency in pricing, the measure would help consumers better understand the true cost of goods and services before making a purchase.
Junk fees are hidden or misleading charges, often labeled as “service,” “processing,” or “convenience” fees, that only appear at the end of a transaction. These practices obscure the true price of goods and services, making it harder for consumers to comparison shop while disadvantaging honest businesses that advertise transparent pricing. Junk fees often appear when purchasing event tickets, booking hotels, or paying certain service bills, where mandatory fees are only revealed at checkout.
Under the proposal, businesses would be required to include all mandatory fees in the advertised price of a product or service. The legislation would apply to industries where hidden fees are common, including ticketing, hospitality, and certain service transactions, helping ensure consumers know the true cost before completing a purchase.
Advancing the measure in Springfield, working alongside Governor J. B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and State Senator Omar Aquino, HB228 would make it clear what fees and charges businesses must disclose to consumers up front, helping consumers make informed decisions and allowing for a more transparent marketplace.
According to national analyses, junk fees cost the average American family of four approximately $3,000 annually. By requiring transparent pricing, HB228 would help Illinois residents more accurately compare prices and make informed purchasing decisions while keeping more money in their pockets.
* WAND…
A group of faith leaders and patients visited the Capitol on Wednesday to demand that state representatives vote against a proposal to expand the 340B drug pricing program.
The 340B program was created in 1992 to improve access to care at safety net hospitals and clinics, but hospital leaders have said Big Pharma has limited their access to medications. […]
“Regardless of the fact of who thinks that this should be pushed forward, we the people are speaking up,” said Pastor Dr. Randall White with the Healthcare Equity and Affordability Alliance. “We believe that we need more transparency. The hospitals are getting big discounts, but it’s not touching the hands of those who need it the most.”
Yet, the legislation would require 340Bs to provide annual reports listing costs of drugs taken under the program, the number of drug claims and the impact of the program on their community. […]
“During a time when the federal government is cutting funding for healthcare for families across this state, we should be doing everything we can to bring vital resources to support patients and their healthcare providers — resources like 340B that cost nothing to taxpayers or the state of Illinois,” said Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin).
* Home for Good Coalition…
The Home for Good Coalition held a rally day at the National Public Housing Museum on Thursday to increase awareness of legislation that would create safer, stronger communities across Illinois by improving housing and support services for people returning from prison.
The rally comes just weeks after the coalition introduced the Home for Good legislation (SB4162) during a press conference at the Capitol in Springfield. Nearly 100 advocates gathered in support of the measure, sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, and Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, which would prevent homelessness, increase public safety and save taxpayers money by creating a comprehensive strategy to ensure successful reentry for people returning from prison. Activities included a fireside chat led by Ahmadou Dramé, director of the Illinois Justice Project, with Joakim Noah, former Chicago Bulls All-Star and co-founder of the Noah’s Arc Foundation, and Andre Ruddock, founder of Returning Citizens in Memory of Henry Dee and outreach coordinator for the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance. […]
This bill will formalize into law existing services currently operating on a small scale and will provide coordinated, interagency collaboration and monitoring to ensure the program is cohesive and effective. More than smart policy, Home for Good is compassionate policy that fosters equity and opportunity for people returning from incarceration. It is people-centered and community-driven, prioritize collaboration, and was crafted with input from people who are formerly incarcerated as well as housing providers who have identified flaws and gaps in the current system based on their own experiences. The legislation consists of four primary components:
- Rental Assistance: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will provide rental subsidies to returning residents, helping them access housing so they can focus on building stability and independence.
- Wraparound Services: The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) will build on a legacy of successful community-based reentry organizations to create a coordinated system, providing reentry navigation and connecting people to needed services including behavioral health, physical health, job training, transportation, furniture and food, childcare, and more when they return home.
- Reentry Housing Development: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will help address the statewide affordable housing shortage and minimize the possibility of landlord discrimination while creating economic opportunities for developers and communities impacted by high incarceration.
- Creates the Home for Good Institute: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will establish the Home for Good Institute, which will provide cohort-based training and technical assistance to community-based organizations interested in developing and operating reentry housing. This also supports the creation of new rehab and construction jobs in long disinvested communities, fueling economic activity.
* WCIA…
The Healing Through History Act is moving through the legislative process. This new bill would require adoptive parents to have transparency with their future child’s records with access to information like the biological parents’ race, religion, ethnicity, health background and more.
Rebecca Austin is a mother of six. She started as a foster mom, eventually adopting five of her children. […]
They are adults now, but when they were younger, one of her children was diagnosed with epilepsy, and another had a blood-clotting disorder.
“We didn’t know again. Did it come from the mom side or the dad side? Those are things that we did not (know) as foster adoptive parents,” she said.
* The Illinois Environmental Council…
[Yesterday], the Protect Illinois Waters Coalition celebrated as the Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee advanced House Bill 3596, the Wetlands Protection Act, out of committee—marking a critical step toward restoring protections for Illinois’ most vulnerable wetlands.
“This is a critical step toward closing a dangerous gap in protections for Illinois wetlands,” said David McEllis, legislative director at the Environmental Law and Policy Center. “Our state is relying on a patchwork system that leaves many wetlands vulnerable to destruction. Today’s vote shows lawmakers recognize the urgency of protecting our water, our ecosystems, and our communities.”
Illinois has already lost 90% of its historic wetlands, and recent federal policy changes have made the situation more urgent. Following a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision and subsequent Trump admin federal rule changes, an estimated 72% of Illinois wetlands are no longer protected under the Clean Water Act—leaving hundreds of thousands of acres at risk.
“We can’t afford to lose the protection wetlands provide,” said Illinois Rep. Anna Moeller. “Clean drinking water, flood protection and other wetland benefits are simply not negotiable – they are necessary for all of us. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation in the House this spring.”
The Wetlands Protection Act (HB3596/SB2401) is designed to fill that gap by empowering the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to oversee wetland permitting and establish clear, science-based standards for protection and mitigation.
* Center Square…
llinois Republican Senate Minority Leader John Curran is at the forefront in pushing legislation crafted to bring the state in compliance with a recent Supreme Court decision protecting homeowners from losing equity in their homes for unpaid property taxes. […]
“We have a court decision saying that people should not be losing the equity in their homes in a tax sale, yet this is still going on in the state of Illinois,” Curran told The Center Square. “It’s people’s life savings. It is most likely the biggest part of their savings portfolio, and so I think we want to make sure we find the other way to protect residents and protect homeowners that have fallen behind and make sure that they keep the equity that they have built in their home.”
Formally filed by Republican Sen. Ericka Harriss, Senate Bill 3782 seeks to reform the system by creating a task force to analyze property tax foreclosures, ultimately shielding homeowners from losing the wealth they’ve worked to build in their properties in accordance with a 2023 Supreme Court decision rendering such practices unconstitutional when the debt owed on the home is lower than the equity in it.
Curran also recently introduced SB 3848 to create an income tax deduction on the year-over-year increase in a taxpayer’s home insurance and SB 3849, which would add annual consumer price index costs to Illinois’ General Homestead Exemption by tying it to inflation.
* The Labor Tribune…
State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is partnering with Attorney General Kwame Raoul on an initiative to strengthen the Workplace Rights Bureau, enhancing the bureau’s capabilities to investigate and prosecute violations of laws that protect Illinois workers.
“Bad actors are taking advantage of loopholes, and it’s time to pursue updates that will reinforce our Workplace Rights Bureau and expand its effectiveness,” Hoffman said. “I’m proud to partner with Attorney General Raoul, and am thankful for the hard work his staff does each and every day to fight for Illinois workers.” […]
The Workplace Rights Bureau protects and advances employment rights for workers across the state, investigating and litigating cases involving serious or persistent violations of workplace safety, wage theft and other unfair employment practices.
Hoffman’s House Bill 4725 strengthens investigative tools, clarifies the bureau’s jurisdiction, streamlines subpoena procedures and institutes needed penalties to stop those who destroy evidence or refuse to comply with the law.
* More…
* WAND | IL bill could require insurance coverage for preventative heart scans: Sponsors told reporters in Springfield Wednesday that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Illinois, and many people find out they’re at risk when it is too late to act. This proposal requires private individual and group insurance providers to cover heart scans for adults 40 and older when recommended by healthcare providers. Rep. Yolanda Morris (D-Chicago) said this change can help reduce long-term healthcare costs and save lives.
