* WCBU interview of Secretary of State Giannoulius…

Q: I was curious about your stance on House Bill 0867. It’s a “one license plate” bill, it’s something that’s been suggested a few times in the past. Would you support a single license plate bill in Illinois or not?

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulius: I’m going to have to take a look at it. But right now, we do not support it.

* Sen. Bill Cunningham’s SB1504…

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Changes the definition of “gambling device” to include any vending or other electronic machine or device, including, without limitation, a machine or device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits that offers a person entry into any contest, competition, sweepstakes, scheme, plan, or other selection process that involves or is dependent upon an element of chance for which the person may receive a gift, award, or other item or service of value if that offer is incidental to or results from: (A) the purchase of an item or service of value; or (B) the purchase or gratuitous receipt of a coupon, voucher, certificate, or other similar credit that can be redeemed for or applied towards an item or service of value from such machine or device or elsewhere. Provides that participants in a game of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate shall not be convicted of gambling except where participation in such game of skill or chance is accomplished using a gambling device prohibited by these changes to the definition. Provides that a gambling offense involving such a gambling device is a Class 4 felony. Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes a provision allowing for the use of a game device without a license if the game device is used in an activity that is not gambling under the Criminal Code of 2012. Effective immediately.

This bill would essentially criminalize “sweepstakes” machines, which have been operating in a gray area of the law for years. Sen. Cunningham told Rich today that the Senate has passed his bill before, but it stalled in the House. Some background from 2018…

Thanks to these machines — often referred to as “sweepstakes” — [Chicago] has become studded with what effectively are mini-casinos in gas stations, convenience stores and even a laundromat.

Unlike the video poker machines that the state has regulated and taxed since 2012, these other machines don’t pay state or local government taxes. And the state does not conduct background checks of sweepstakes machine operators or the businesses that install them, as is required for video poker licenses.

A WBEZ investigation found that some bars that were deemed unfit for video gambling have simply installed sweepstakes machines instead.

From 2020…

The owner of a video sweepstakes company has been indicted as part of a federal bribery case filed last year against former Illinois State Rep. Luis Arroyo, accusing the pair of bribing an Illinois state senator for his support on legislation beneficial to the video gambling industry.

James Weiss, 41, was added as a co-defendant in a superseding indictment unveiled against Arroyo on Friday. The indictment charges Weiss with bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud, and lying to the FBI. Arroyo is charged with bribery, wire fraud, and mail fraud.

* Illinois PIRG…

Bloomington-based State Farm finalized a $182 million Illinois car insurance rate hike on Friday, adding $58 to the average customers’ annual bill. The rate hike will impact more than 3 million Illinois drivers. Combined with $388 million in State Farm rate hikes in 2022, car insurance rates for Illinois State Farm customers have gone up by more than half a billion dollars in less than one year.

The rate hike follows a $63 million rate hike by Northbrook-based Allstate in January. Combined with $229 million in Allstate rate hikes in 2022, car insurance rates for Illinois Allstate customers have gone up by $292 million since the start of 2022. Earlier analysis by Illinois PIRG Education Fund and Consumer Federation of America found that combined, top car insurance companies raised Illinois drivers’ rates by more than $1.1 billion in 2022.

State Rep. Will Guzzardi, with the support of State Sen. Javier Cervantes and the Illinois Coalition for Fair Car Insurance Rates, recently introduced legislation to address unfair and excessive car insurance rates in February. Even though Illinois requires every car owner to buy insurance, it is one of only two states that doesn’t protect insurance customers from excessive or unfair rates. The legislation, HB2203, would empower the Illinois Department of Insurance to reject or modify excessive rate hikes, and end the use of non-driving factors, such as credit scores, to set rates.

* WAND…

State lawmakers want to require a personal finance course for high school students to help tackle this issue. Rep. Curtis Tarver II (D-Chicago) told the House School Curriculum & Policies Committee that all high school students should complete a course on financial literacy before they graduate. His proposal includes instruction of behavioral economics, banking, bills, investing, managing credit, and paying for college. Tarver would also like to see students learn about insurance, taxes, budgeting, home ownership, and financing for personal transportation.

“I think we’d have a lot less of the bills talking about predatory loans, payday loans, and things along those lines if children, or students I should say, knew earlier on about financial resources and had more financial literacy,” Tarver said Wednesday morning.

The Illinois State Board of Education would be in charge of approving the personal finance education standards for the course. House Bill 1375 also states the curriculum could be updated every five years. ISBE is currently concerned that the legislation would be an unfunded mandate for school districts. Government Relations Director Hector Rodriguez said the board is also trying to negotiate with Tarver to change the proposed semester course to lessons spread out from 9th-12th grade.

“Currently, statute gives districts the flexibility to incorporate the consumer education requirement into their course work,” Rodriguez said. “And, as drafted, House Bill 1375 would’ve created or would create a stand-alone course.”

* Sun-Times letter to the editor…

Last month, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford introduced House Bill 00001, the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogenic (CURE) Act. The Illinois CURE Act would allow for regulated and supervised therapeutic use of entheogens, a class of psychoactive substances that produce an altered state of consciousness like psilocybin and LSD. The CURE Act would also decriminalize psilocybin in Illinois to protect providers and clients.

Research from respected institutions like John Hopkins Medicine and UCLA has demonstrated that psilocybin can be effective in treating mental disorders such as depression, end-of-life anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addictions. […]

The Illinois CURE Act would allow individuals to try a new, alternative form of treatment that is safer and potentially more effective in treating their symptoms. For people with treatment-resistant mental health conditions, entheogenic care gives them hope that something will work for alleviating their condition.

Misconceptions and the lack of education surrounding entheogenic substances like psilocybin is what motivates the push-back on this kind of legislation. Education is imperative, especially when discussing the therapeutic effects of controlled substances. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already labeled psilocybin therapy a “breakthrough therapy,” which recognizes the therapeutic potential of this drug.

* Press release…

On Tuesday, House Bill 2963 was assigned to the Energy & Environment Committee. In response, Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) released the following statement:

“As a lifelong resident of Dixon, Illinois, I am dedicated to ensuring that the people of my hometown are given a voice. Years ago, Dixon Park District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources made a deal regarding a plot of land in Dixon. The IDNR would give them the land, contingent on the fact that the land could not be developed.

“After numerous conversations with local elected officials and constituents, I learned that the people of my district want to add solar panels to this land but are restricted from doing so by this old agreement.

“All parties involved, including both of the departments who made this deal, are in favor of adding solar panels. The panels will also add a guaranteed revenue stream to the park district without raising property tax assessments.

“The only remaining obstacle is amending the previous law, which is why I introduced HB 2963. This committee assignment is a step forward for making this bi-partisan bill law.”

* HB1609…

99th District State Representative Randy Frese is sponsoring legislation in the Illinois General Assembly this Spring that will appropriate $67.6 million to demolish and remediate buildings on the Jacksonville Developmental Center grounds.

Former Governor Pat Quinn announced the closure of the facility in September 2011 with the last of the facility’s residents moved out in late November 2012. The buildings have been sitting dormant since then.

The State of Illinois’ Central Management Services placed barriers up around the property in April 2020 after fires, vagrants, and vandalism plagued the property. Later in 2020, the buildings on the property were boarded up to prevent further issues with squatters. The City of Jacksonville had problems with CMS’ mowing schedule on the grounds last year after they became overgrown. Eventually CMS contracted with balers and heavy mowers for upkeep on the property.

Frese says the property is a health, life, and safety issue to Jacksonville: “For the City of Jacksonville, they’ve got these buildings that already are and have been for a number of years now, a threat to the safety of the people around there. You don’t want abandoned buildings. You don’t want half fallen-in buildings, especially in an area of Jacksonville where, if those were gone, some development could be done. I think it’s time for the state to take action. I know there is several other of my colleagues that are looking at some buildings that Illinois has kind of abandoned and should be doing something with. I’d say, let’s at least eliminate the possibility of someone getting hurt in these buildings by doing something to get them down.”

* Black Energy Justice…

A coalition of Chicago, statewide and national organizations focused on consumer rights, environmental justice, energy and the environment are joining forces to push for legislation to improve affordability of utility service in response to decades of Illinois utility rate increases with no end in sight. The People’s Utility Rate Relief Act (PURR Act, HB 2172) will protect the interests of Illinois consumers and keep families safe by minimizing disconnections of essential utility services and requiring the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to specifically assess affordability in all of its decisions. Its chief sponsor is State Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest. The Bill is the product of the Campaign to End Energy Poverty sponsored by Blacks in Green (BIG™) which held an inaugural campaign retreat at BIG’s Woodlawn headquarters in July 2022.

* Energy News…

Opponents have worked with state legislators to introduce bills this month limiting carbon dioxide pipelines, which if passed could apply to Navigator’s proposal.

One, SB 1916/HB 3803, would create a moratorium on carbon dioxide pipeline construction for two years or until the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has adopted revised federal safety standards for the transportation of carbon dioxide. The safety administration announced new rulemaking around carbon dioxide pipelines in the wake of a 2020 pipeline rupture in Sartartia, Mississippi, that sickened many.

The other Illinois state bill, HB 3119/ SB2421, includes multiple curbs and safeguards including a ban on the use of eminent domain and the creation of a fund — paid into by companies — for problems with pipelines and sequestration and for training first responders.

That bill also holds pipeline companies fully liable for any carbon dioxide leaks from pipelines or sequestration sites, and it requires pipelines to be approved by 100% of surface landowners along the route. It also requires a life-cycle carbon emissions analysis of proposed pipelines, and requires that the Illinois Commerce Commission consider alternative project proposals that would result in similar greenhouse gas emissions reductions to what the pipeline companies promise.