* The Bond Buyer…

Illinois lawmakers are hammering out legislation to increase cybersecurity protections for local water utilities, an effort that comes in the wake of coordinated cyberattacks that struck municipal water systems across the country this summer.

The bill, HB 3576, would require public water utilities to have cybersecurity insurance policies, to conform to industry-recognized cybersecurity frameworks, and to submit compliance, annual status and cybersecurity incident reports.
The bill is currently with the House rules committee, and lawmakers are in discussions with stakeholders about fine-tuning its language, said the bill’s lead sponsor, state Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Romeoville.

“We’re going to be making changes to the language with regards to oversight,” Avelar said. “After talking to stakeholders, it seems that the (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) is better suited to do the oversight, as opposed to the Illinois Commerce Commission, because the Commerce Commission is looking only at privately-owned utilities.”

* The Chicago Tribune…

After two local teachers were arrested within days of each other, an area state lawmaker is renewing her call to close a “loophole” in Illinois’ sex offender registry laws.

State Sen. Darby Hills, R-Barrington Hills, is seeking petition signatures to get her bill, SB 2381, on the floor for a vote during the upcoming fall veto session of the state legislature. It would require sex offender registration when an adult is convicted of sexually motivated, unauthorized video recording of a minor. […]

Current Illinois laws have a loophole, Hills argues, regarding unauthorized videos, and it allows adults who record minors for sexual purposes to avoid the sex offender registry in cases where the victims don’t testify and the case isn’t considered a sex crime.

In an era of smartphones, readily available and easily hidden cameras, and online distribution, she said the act of unauthorized video taking of minors should be considered a registrable sex offense.

* WAND…

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) told WAND News that recent laws have harmed property owners, and it is past time for Springfield to support fair rental enforcement.

Her plan could amend the state’s eviction law to allow the summons and complaint to be served to tenants within five business days. Tenants would be required to appear in court within five business days of receiving the eviction notice. […]

The bill states courts should hold hearings on the eviction or ejectment action within 10 business days of the tenant making their first appearance. A judgment would be served to the renter within five business days if the court rules in favor of the landlord. […]

Housing Action Illinois said the eviction process is stressful, painful, and time-consuming for both rental property owners and tenants. Policy Director Bob Palmer told WAND News the most important public policy changes we need to reduce evictions are ensuring people with the lowest incomes can afford their rent and supporting emergency rent assistance and homelessness programs.