Illinois House Floor Debate — March 18, 2021

"The House will be in order. Members will be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by Lee Crawford, the Pastor of the Cathedral of Praise Christian Center in Springfield. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn of all cell phones, and rise for the invocation and for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Crawford."

"We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Murphy."

"Roll Call for Attendance. Members. Members. Members. Members are being asked to respect social distancing. You will hear me say that from time to time. Remember to respect social distancing. Also, Members, we are allowing time for Members to come to vote your own switch. Members, if you are in your offices, please make it to the Capitol for roll call. Leader Harris is recognized to report any excused absences on the Democratic side of the aisle."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that there are no excused absences among Democrats today."

"Leader Spain is recognized to report any excused absences on the Republican side of the aisle."

"The roll is open. Members, remember to respect social distancing. If you are in your offices, Members, please make your way to the Capitol. The roll for attendance is open. Members, I'm going to remind you to please respect social distancing. Members, if you are in your offices, please make 10200014.docx 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 your way to the floor to record yourselves on the roll. If you have recorded yourself on the roll, we do intend to go to caucus meetings… recognize caucus meetings. So, you can remove yourself from the floor if you have already marked yourself on the roll. Have all recorded themselves who wish? Have all recorded themselves who wish? Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the roll. There being 109 Members answering the roll call, a quorum is present. Mr. Clerk, Rules Report."

"Members. Members, Republicans will caucus in Room 114. The Black Caucus will caucus in Room D-1. The Latinx Caucus will caucus in Room 100. And the Moderate Caucus will caucus in Room 402. Leader Durkin, you expect this to last an hour? One hour. Caucuses will last approximately one hour. The House will stand in recess."

"Good afternoon, Members. We're going to get started with today's agenda. Communicated previously, you were informed that there would be a limited number of speakers on each Bill. That still remains, and the speakers will be limited to five minutes each. On Second Reading appears House 10200014.docx 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Bill 158, and there is an Amendment we need to adopt. Mr. Clerk."

"Representative Lilly on the Amendment."

"Thank you, Speaker. I would like to adopt Amendment #3. And a brief explanation…"

"Representative, does Amendment 3 become the Bill?"

"It does."

"You'd like to adopt the Amendment and then explain it on Third?"

"Correction. House… excuse me. Floor Amendment 3 is a page and line Amendment. And Amendment 1 becomes the Bill."

"Would you like to adopt the Amendment and then explain the Bill on Third Reading?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Clerk. Representative Lilly moves for the adoption of House Amendment… I'm sorry… Floor Amendment 3. All those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Amendment is adopted. Mr. Clerk, any other Amendments?"

"Third Reading. Representative Lilly."

"Thank you…"

"Excuse me. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill." 10200014.docx 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Representative Lilly."

"Thank you. A couple short explanations for the Amendments. Article 55 removes opioid treatment program and deletes that language on behalf of the original Sponsor. Article 115, primary care access, it provides a sentence structural fix, which was an error in Amendment 1. Article 6… excuse me, Article 6(d), dementia training program language has been updated and provided by the original Sponsor. It's identical to HB2660. It is a partnership between the Department of Aging and the Alzheimer's Association. Article 131, the Medicaid technical assistance program, it replaces the language provided by the original Sponsor. And it's very similar, and if not similar, to HB1950. And Article 815, sickle cell prevention and treatment, we changed it a little bit and… at the request of the Comptroller and we added 'subject to appropriation' to the fund, itself. With that…"

"For further discussion, Representative Hammond is recognized for five minutes."

"Thank you for the question, Representative. One of the Amendments is different. It is to the dementia training program between… the partnership between the Department of Aging and the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association has agreed to fund the training program. So, that's the only difference."

"Correct. Yes."

"That is correct."

"No, but I would say it gives us something to talk about."

"What I would like to say to that, between the initiatives that came out of the efforts of the Transformation Review Committee, the billions that are coming from the Federal Government because of the pandemic, we do have a start of where revenues are coming from. We are now emphasizing the importance of health care for all Illinoisans. And I really believe that the revenue will be prioritized to make sure we have better health outcomes. Department of Health and Family Services very interested in shifting their perspective of outcome and how they fund health care. So, I'm excited to begin those discussions."

"I believe that. And I'm hoping you will join me in that effort."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Greenwood for five minutes."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the Representative yield?"

"She indicates that she will." 10200014.docx 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Thank you, Representative Lilly, for your collaborative work on this legislation. The stories that we have listened to around the state are shocking, horrible, and unacceptable. We have heard from black women from around our state speaking to their painful experiences of pregnancy in a medical environment steeped in unconscious bias and systemic racism. Story after story, we heard about loss, death, and near-death experiences. Bias and racism, we found, data concluded, has contributed to significant and repugnant racial disparities and mortality rates in our state. We know that here, in our state, black women are dying. They are dying from pregnancy related causes at more than six times the rate of white women, higher than the national average. This is a public health crisis. As we have conversations around social justice and racial equity, we must continue to insist that greater care, dignity, and respect are provided to black women and their babies. And so, I thank you, Representative Lilly. And I thank Representative Flowers for her legislative package of Bills to address this crisis in the 101st General Assembly. And yet, we are still here. There is something inherently wrong with the system that is not valuing the lives of black women equally to white women. We have come to a moment of reckoning that requires us to reach higher and demand more. And so, this legislation, presented today, attempts to address this crisis through implicit bias training, providing doula services and evidence-based home visiting to be covered under Medicaid. Implicit bias training for health care professionals will provide that, in order to renew a license as a health care professional in our state, 10200014.docx 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 a licensee shall complete an evidence-based implicit bias training to address how unintended biases regarding race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio- economic status, or other characteristics affect the health care industry and the care received by patients. Expanding access to doula and home visiting services is one of the recommendations listed in the 2018 IDPH Maternal Mortality Report. Using Medicaid to finance home visiting doula services makes sense. In fact, more than 30 other states already bill Medicaid to cover home visiting, and Illinois has been imbedded… imbedding doulas into its state funding home visiting program since the mid-90s. Meaning, we are well- positioned to do this. Any investment into the Medicaid budget will be small when you consider the myriad of short and longer term positive outcomes for children and their families, tied to healthier births and healthier child development. These policies, and others in this legislation, reflect the belief in the inherent dignity for all mothers in our state. I stand in support of this legislation, and I urge our elected leaders and health officials to do more to address this public health crisis of black maternal mortality in our state. Thank you."

"The Chair recognizes Leader Spain for five minutes."

"The record shall reflect that."

"She indicates that she will." 10200014.docx 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Yes."

"It does not."

"Yes."

"Outside of what was explained in the Amendment… there may be one, one second. You may be thinking about the hospital closure moratorium. That is… will remain in place until the pandemic is over."

"So, that is the most substantive change."

"And we did receive that language… we negotiated that language with the hospital association."

"What we are challenged with here, in our America, actually, is the wraparound service, the how to, the hand holding type of approach to get people to their health outcomes. And a health care worker navigates. A health care worker assists. A health care worker advises an individual who are… who's at risk towards their health outcomes because of the disparities, because of their inequities, because they are struggling. And the health care worker goal is to make sure they reach their health goals."

"We are working very diligently with the Community Health Care Association to get those parameters in place."

Speaker Manley: "Representative Spain, Leader Batinick has offered to give you his five minutes. He was one of the chosen speakers today. Would you like his five minutes to continue?"

"Thank you, Leader Batinick. Please continue."

"Thank you…"

"It's the Medicaid reimbursement, which will be determined by the… HFS."

"Yes, it is."

"Yes, it is."

"Yes, it is."

"We do not have that at this time, but we have been working on one, and we will get that to you once we get that in place."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Willis for five minutes."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to simply speak to the Bill today. I want to commend the Sponsor on this Bill. This is a Bill that I know her and many of her colleagues have worked for a very, very long time to do. And, I think, currently, in our current climate of the pandemic, we have seen firsthand the health care inequity in our state. And that is why now, more so than ever, this Bill is truly important for us to put forward. This Bill would have been important two, three, five years ago, but even more so now, when we have seen firsthand the lives that have been affected because the lack of health care available to them. And that is why we need to take our stance now and stop this inequity. There are some things in this Bill that are truly important to me, and I'm going to highlight those. Child care assistance, that is one of the most important things. I actually chair two committees that deal with early childhood and child care assistance. That's how important it is to me. This Bill addresses that, making sure that the department gets that information out to the people in the State of Illinois so that we can readily have that available to them. Hospital closures, another point that is truly important to 10200014.docx 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 me. Later today, you'll hear me talk about that, as I present a Bill that will, hopefully, reopen a hospital that we had close in this. This is important for us to look at. I know there are some colleagues of mine, right now, that are dealing with it firsthand. During a pandemic, to have another hospital close would be unforgivable. We don’t have less of a need for health care right now, we have more of a need for health care. And, until that passes, we cannot close another hospital. We need to make sure we keep our safety net and our community hospitals open so that people have access to health care. That's what this Bill does. We need to make sure that we protect that. Another point that’s in here is having a commission look at the causes of crime in violence study. I don't think there is anybody in this room, on either side of the aisle, that can say that violence is not a health… a public health crisis. It is an issue that affects our public health. And to actually have a study to look at firsthand, and look at what those causes are, and what makes one community more violent than another, is a step in the right direction to solving and making sure that we can cut down on that violence. Those are the important things in here, not to mention all of the other Articles. I think every single one of us, when we look at it… and I've heard that from people speaking on the other side of the aisle supporting it, saying it's important. Yes, it's important. Yes, it's important. But there is a cost to it, and I agree with that, but sometimes how do you put a cost on a human life? How do you put a cost on someone's wellbeing? Sometimes we just have to do it. This is one of those times we need to make sure we do it. Dementia 10200014.docx 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 training, we know that that is something that affects almost every family as they age. They have someone that’s been affected by that. If we can have that training at an earlier stage, we can, hopefully, make that family's life a little bit better. And having a partnership and making sure we get that training out there is another step in the right direction. So, with that being said, I'm actually not going to take my full five minutes, but I am going to urge everybody to please support this Bill because it is now time for us to put it forward so that we do not have to wait 'til another pandemic to see how inequitable our health care system is. Please, I urge everyone to support House Bill 158. And I commend Representative Lilly on her hard work of working collaboratively with all Members of this Body throughout the entire state to put forth a great Bill. Thank you."

"The Chair recognizes Leader Gabel."

"Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair… Madam Speaker. To the Bill. So, thank you so much, Representative, for working very hard to put this Bill together with your colleagues and both across the aisle and I know many, many of our community partners. You know, health disparities in this country and in this state are very well-documented. Some of the other speakers have spoken to them. I just want to emphasis them a little bit. So, not only do black and brown people have less access to quality health care, but their health care outcomes reflect this lack of access. Black moms are six times more likely to die of a pregnancy related condition compared to white moms. Women on Medicaid are two and a half times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than women on private 10200014.docx 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 insurance. Illinois' infant mortality rate is higher than the national average. And infants born to black parents are 2.3 times more likely to die before their first birthday than infants born to white, Hispanic, or Asian parents. This Bill begins to address the problem. Yes, a lot of it is subject to appropriation, but we have to lay out a plan. We have to know where we need to go and where we are going. Women need to be healthy before they are pregnant, and this Bill helps to coordinate primary care between community health centers and local hospitals, giving women more access to primary care that can identify and treat medical problems before they get pregnant. To improve quality of care to Medicaid clients, which you've already heard they are… their care is worse. This Bill establishes the Medicaid Managed Care Oversight Commission, which will work very hard to increase the quality of care in Medicaid. Also in this Bill is requiring medical implicit bias training. When I was in graduate school, we did… I did a very short study, gave a group of doctors… one of them I gave some symptoms that a woman had, and I gave the same symptoms to another group of doctors, and the only thing I changed was their race. Black women or white women. Same age, same symptoms. The doctors identified the white women as having appendicitis and the black women as having pelvic infection. So, there is so much implicit bias. And a discrimination like that, somebody can end up dead from appendicitis attack. So, I am so glad that you've put this Bill together to really, really look at the implicit bias and have doctors understand, when they look at clients, what they're seeing. The Bill also reflects… requests additional 10200014.docx 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 funding for hospitals that provide prenatal and delivery services so we can improve their quality of care. And that’s for safety net hospitals. We want to make sure that they provide very high quality of care, even though they mainly see Medicaid clients. We spoke about the importance of community health workers, doulas, and home visiting services. All have been shown to improve the health of infants, children, and women. These programs have been very small because of lack of funding. And this Bill requires them to be reimbursed through Medicaid, and that will increase their accessibility around this state. Behavioral health improvements are also in this Bill, establishing the Behavioral Work Force Education Center of Illinois to leverage more reforms. We already spoke about the childhood trauma training for day care workers so they can be… provide better care to the children that they see. It is so important to increase these funds for safety net hospitals so they can increase their quality. I would urge a very strong 'yes' vote on this Bill. As I said, this is laying out a plan and a framework for what we need to do. The time has come to right the wrongs. Thank you."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Davidsmeyer."

"She indicates that she will."

"As mentioned before, we are compiling and thinking that through. We have our plan before us. We do not have those numbers at this time."

"No, I do not. As mentioned, this is subject to appropriations, which means we have set some priorities and we have set a plan to move us in that direction to improve the health care of all Illinoisans. And as you've mentioned, on both sides of the aisle we see that this is a priority, and we need to sit down and make sure we fund these areas. Thank you."

"Would you like to tell me?"

"What I do understand, Representative, it is important that we prioritize the health and wellness of the citizens of Illinois."

"What's important, as we've been stating, we have a plan…"

"Health care is the priority. Health outcomes, better health cares is the priority. One's life is the priority. You have heard…"

"You know…"

"Representative, I'd like to respond to that."

"Representative."

"Chair recognizes Leader Hernandez for five minutes." Hernandez, L.: "Thank you, Madam Chair. I won't take all five. I rise today… well, first of all, to the Bill. I rise today to celebrate another step in our journey to provide equity and access to quality health care for every resident in Illinois. I want to commend Representative Lilly and the entire Black Caucus for their tireless work on the legislation and their steadfast advocacy for our state's most vulnerable. I also want to recognize the work of my colleagues in the Latino Caucus. The reality is that Illinois' largest health care desert is on the Chicago west and southwest side, centered in Little Village, and primarily affecting people of color, both African American and Latinx. The demand for quality health care for all our constituents is a priority for both caucuses and we both share it. And one of many Members of this chamber also shares it. House Bill 158 is a needed step forward. However, it is only the beginning of the journey to bring equity to our Medicaid system. Since I arrived in Springfield, we have worked to increase eligibility to Medicaid and increase the state's financial commitment to our residents and the safety net hospitals that serve them. Yet, we see long-time hospitals throughout our communities closing, and we hear the same reasons from each. The MCO system is eviscerating our safety net. That's why we need to continue to bring more transparency and accountability to the MCO system. The Legislature has shown a real commitment to health care access through our appropriations, but now we must force the MCOs to show that… their math so the appropriated dollars 10200014.docx 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 flow through to our safety net hospitals and FQHCs. I rise today to support House Bill 158 and to call for additional actions to guarantee that the health care resources the Black and Latinox Caucuses have fought so hard to appropriate reach the community. We have recently put forward several additional concrete requirements to reform the MCO system. And we'll continue to work with the Black Caucus and others for full passage of these provisions this Session. We must add to the end the rash of hospital closures devastating too many neighborhoods. I know protecting and increasing health care access for our most vulnerable is a priority for our Speaker. It is a priority for the Latinx Caucus. And I ask that, with your vote today, you demonstrate access to health care is also a priority for you. I urge your support for House Bill 158."

"Chair recognizes Representative Haas for five minutes."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Davis for five minutes."

"Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Will the Sponsor yield for a brief question?"

"She indicates that she will."

"Representative, if you can just talk a little bit about one of the provision in your… well, maybe two, but Article 170, the Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission."

"Thank you, Representative, for bringing that forward. It is clear that we have a diverse Illinois, but it's not apparent in our agencies throughout the state. And we have legislation of policy, the BEP program, that's supposed to ensure that we have inclusion in… amongst all of all Illinoisans and the business that we do for the state and the people of Illinois. And we found that this provision has been noncompliant year after year, after year, after year. So, what we wanted to do was to make sure that we addressed it in 10200014.docx 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 this omnibus Bill to ensure that we have inclusion and participation to address the issues of all Illinoisans."

"Thank you, Representative. And real quick, Article 160, the Managed Care Oversight Fund. Just a little bit about that as well."

"That particular fund allows equity for businesses who are diverse, businesses who want to do business with the State of Illinois, the equity lens to ensure that they are considered in that opportunity… or those opportunities."

"Thank you very much. To the Bill. So, my mother, fantastic woman named Marjorie Davis, who's no longer with us, used to tell me that if you don't have your health, you really don’t have anything at all. And what we have seen over the last year or so is the exacerbation of what happens when people are desperate, when people are seeking, when people are just fed up with the current systems and the way that they operate. We have seen the manifestation of that. Now, many of you may characterize this Bill as the fourth pillar of the Black Lives Matter movement, sponsored by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. And that’s fine, and that's a great way to couch it. But the reality is that the dearth of health care is not only in black and brown communities. The reality is, it's in many of your communities as well. This is an opportunity for all of us to be able to stand up and to support efforts to create a better Illinois, particularly as it relates to health care, and support this effort. I know many of you are talking about the cost associated, but the reality is that unless we start addressing it, those costs continue to grow, and grow, and grow. And then, where are they going? So, at some point, we 10200014.docx 32  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 have to draw the line and say we are not going to take it anymore. We are going to start at this point forward and address those issues that are important to, not only my district, but hopefully important to all of your districts as well. That's what's necessary. I commend Representative Lilly and all of her hard work to try to bring this forward. Everything that she went through in lame duck Session and bringing it forward. This is probably, arguably one of the toughest pillars of the four pillars that we have put forth, depending on where you are. But this is one of the toughest ones because health care is such a touchy subject. And part of the reason that I asked her to talk about the efforts in equity in health care is because, unfortunately, we have seen the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, time and time again, not meet its obligation relative to diversity in the health care space. We have brought companies to them and said vet them, make sure that they can handle the load. And they continue to dance around and not making sure that we have diversity in that space, particularly in the MCO space. Hopefully these efforts will be the beginning of acknowledging that, yes, we need to have companies of color, African American companies, work in the MCO space and in that health care space to give our communities an opportunity. When asked, what was the urgency to try to get a company like this up and running? Well, the urgency is that black people were dying. It can't get more urgent than that. Support this measure. Thank you."

"Representative Lilly to close." 10200014.docx 33  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, each and every one, for your comments. You have heard that this is the fourth and final pillar of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus black policy agenda as we look to collectively rid systematic racism in the area of health care. I, too, start most of my statements, if you don’t have your health, you don’t have much else. And as I work with Senator Leader Mattie Hunter, we have spoken to advocates, providers, citizens, patients who sees the importance of us working together to make sure that they have access. The basic principles of this pillar is health care is a right, it's constitutionally sound. COVID has spotlighted the state disparities and equities in the black communities and the brown communities across our state. We look to improve the quality of life for all Illinois by addressing the basic, essential needs to have quality of life in Illinois, which is food, housing, jobs, education, transformation, and, of course, health care. Access to health care has to be looked through, through equity lens. We must invest in our communities and in our infrastructures in our communities that gives individuals, our citizens, a chance to live. Poor black and brown communities' infrastructure lacks all components of basic needs. We must stop divesting and invest so that we can get the health outcomes that each and every one of your family members, and my family members, and all of our family members in this great state deserves. Inequity must be addressed. Because if it's not, your life expectancy will be depending on your zip code. We must look at the equities and the inequities as the priority when we look at our budget, to make sure that we are looking at all 10200014.docx 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 people. The coordinated health model and integrated health services allow us to use resources that are already existing in our community at our state level, at our county level, at our city level to ensure that we have the resources collectively to address health outcomes. Our components that many of you have shared and concerns to you, does just that. Access to health care, to making sure we're coordinating inpatient and outpatient services, making sure we have comprehensive networks of services looking at our FQHCs, our hospitals, and our safety net hospitals, and our specialty services. Looking at preventive care. Looking at health promotion. How… hospital closures during a pandemic. Hospital closures during a pandemic. Hospital closures during a pandemic, shame on you. The hospitals have saved the lives that are remaining who have been stricken with the COVID virus. That's where their savoir came from. We need our health care facilities in the communities that’s hardest hit to keep our citizens alive by providing health care. I enjoy talking to the managed care organizations to ensure that they, too, want to improve their plan, but they need help. And we, through our oversight commission, will do just that. Hospital reforms, again, will address preventive measures… preventive medicine that makes sure that we are addressing the needs of our citizens. As mentioned, the community health workers who will navigate the needs of all persons who access health care. Implicit bias addresses cultural competencies for all the providers starting in the medical school in the university settings. And you heard about the alarming statistics around maternal morality and infant mortality in 2021, where women 10200014.docx 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 of color, black women, brown women, are not surviving the delivery of their children and their children are not living to their first birthday. We have work to do on this front. And, of course, many of us who are challenged with mental health and substance abuse treatment, which have, again, come to light during COVID, that we lack the funding. We lack the access. We lack the priority. We must understand that we have the resources, when you have over $42 billion in a state budget, but we… what we don’t have is the priority to make sure that everyone has access to health care, that has access to quality of life, and that has access to the necessity to keep them well and alive. I want to thank each of you for listening to me in reference to this forth pillar of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. But you heard early on, this is an omnibus Bill, many pieces of legislation put together by colleagues in this General Assembly and previous General Assembly. And I'd just like to mention some of the fine work that has come forth in this particular omnibus Bill. Leader Flowers, Representative Evans, Representative Harper, Senator Fine, Representative Ford, Representative Greenwood, Representative Gordon-Booth, Representative Robinson, Leader Hunter, Representative Manley, Representative Davis, Representative Belt, Representative Lilly, Camille Lilly, Speaker Welch, Representative Hernandez, Lisa Hernandez and Barbara Hernandez, and Senator Steans. These are just some of the pieces of legislation that we all have said is good work, the plan that’s going to move us forward to bring equity, to ensure life, to ensure that we have the health care that each and every one of our citizens need. I thank you for your time 10200014.docx 36  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 and your questions. And, at this time, I ask for your 'aye' vote." Speaker Manley: 'The question is, 'Shall House Bill 158 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. Members, please make your way to the House Floor. The voting is open. Members, please make your way to the House Floor to vote. Have all voted who wish? Members, once you've voted your switch, please vacate the floor or have a seat in the gallery. Members, please vote your switch and then please leave the floor, or go up in the gallery, go back to your offices. Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 72 voting in 'favor', 41 voting 'against', and 0 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Proceeding to the Order of House Bills on Second Reading, House Bill 1871. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."

"Representative Stuart."

"Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise to present House Bill 1871. While Legislatures in states all across our country are spending their time trying to disenfranchise voters, I'm proud to bring forth House Bill 1871, which is a step in continuing Illinois' efforts to 10200014.docx 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 encourage voting and making a fundamental right of our democracy more accessible to people across our geographically diverse state, helping people who live in dense urban areas, rural areas, and all the suburbs in between. As the presidential election of 2020 approached, during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us wondered how we could best protect the health and safety of our communities, while simultaneously supporting the fundamental right to vote. Members of the House Democratic Women's Caucus formed a committee, which I had the honor of chairing, and we got to work, extensively researching election laws and changes in states around the country. While Illinois already had many pro-voter measures, like early voting and no excuse absentee, otherwise known as vote by mail, we knew we would need to do more. We passed a package of measures intended to guide more voters to the vote by mail process and to help our local election authority handle the higher expected volume of those ballots. Those measures applied only to that specific election. The measures enacted were successful. We saw increased voter turnout, and we saw an increase in the use of vote by mail. Many voters who used the vote by mail process for the very first time found themselves feeling more confident in their voting. They liked having the time to research candidates and ballot questions. The former teacher in me sees this like an open-book, open-note, take-home test, the best of all possibilities for any student. House Bill 1871 is identical to a Bill that was presented during the lame duck Session of the 101st General Assembly. Unfortunately, because we're in the midst of an election, we 10200014.docx 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 ran out of time to have the Bill heard on the floor then. This Bill only makes a few of the provisions of that larger, earlier package permanent. It allows election authorities to continue to use secure, locked, tamper-proof drop boxes, subject to rules set by the State Board, like daily ballot collection. It does not make them mandatory. The use of such is still up to the discretion of the local election authorities. There are county clerks who have already purchased such drop boxes and many who are considering doing so. And they want the confidence that they will be able to use them from now on going forward. Drop boxes provide a way for those voters who choose to vote by mail to have an option other than the U.S. Postal Service to return their ballots. It allows election authorities to continue to allow curbside voting, provided at least two election judges from opposite parties are present at the curbside. This allows an option for voters who are elderly, disabled, who may have a medical issue, making them adverse to entering a crowded polling location. While many people in this category may choose to vote by mail, it's important we continue to allow this option. Again, this is also not mandatory. It's up to the discretion of the local election authority. This Bill will also make sure that each and every ballot that is mailed back within the correct time frame will be counted by making election authorities accept them, even if they have insufficient postage. This does not require election authorities to pay for postage of all ballots, only the small number that may be returned with incorrect postage. And the last portion of the Bill simply clarifies the implementation of funds from the 10200014.docx 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Help America Vote Act or HAVA. The language simply leaves open the possibility that election authorities can seek reimbursement for those drop boxes in the future. This is in line with the intention of the HAVA. House Bill 1871 is a pro-voter, common sense piece of legislation. It keeps Illinois as a leader in enfranchising voters. It shows that we, as Legislators, believe that all eligible voters deserve access to the ballot and encourages increased participation and confidence in the choices made by voters. I encourage an 'aye' vote to show your belief in our voters."

"As agreed, there are going to be three speakers from both sides of the aisle for five minutes each. The Chair recognizes Leader Spain."

"She indicates that she will."

"That's correct."

"I don't have that number offhand. I do know that lots of election authorities already prepay for all of those ballots. And, again, this is only to those that might have insufficient postage." 10200014.docx 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Yes, so that everyone who seeks to return a ballot gets their vote counted."

"Well, the election authority can establish who would be eligible. Those were just examples of who they may want to extend that courtesy to."

"There already is a right for curbside voting for those with a disability. This just allows it to be expanded to the elderly, again, if the election authorities so chooses."

"That's correct."

"Yes, and these drop boxes will be used in federal elections." 10200014.docx 41  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"No, I don't believe that it eliminates the ability to use that, but they can… it be used to purchase them because they are used for federal elections."

"Yes."

"Yeah, it actually… because we allow early voting, it's a current election that many people are already voting in. And, yes, it would allow for those… since we are still in a pandemic, and many people found that they enjoy the ability to use those drop boxes. Lots of our clerks found that they appreciated the ability to use a drop box as well, too. This would allow them during this current election."

"Since, right now, this is permissive, we are not mandating that any election authority put them in any specific location. I do believe that that would be something that we should talk about in the future because I think everybody should have an opportunity to use a drop box. Our election authorities are under… the control of the ballot and the security of the ballot, we already have rules that apply to that, and that would apply to these drop boxes as well."

"Representative."

"They would be… yes."

"Maybe you could ask Leader Batinick if he would give you his five minutes? He's awfully generous."

"That'll be fine. Thank you."

"We're allowing local discretion. We think that the authority, the local authority, has the best indication of where the best location would be for those drop boxes."

"The Chair recognizes Leader Ammons."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Sponsor yield?"

"She indicates that she will."

"Just in an effort to clear just a couple of points that were raised. Are there drop boxes currently in use? Meaning available as of the 2020 General Election?"

"There were drop boxes in use since the 2020 General Election. Yes."

"And the usage of those drop boxes, have you received or heard from any clerk's office any concern with the use of the drop boxes, or the availability, or locations thereof?"

"No. In fact, I would say that the clerks that I have spoken to across the board have been pleased with the results of using the drop boxes."

"Thank you for answering those two questions. To the Bill. The coronavirus disease has presented us with quite a bit of difficulty in the 2020 election, and certainly going forward, since we are still battling with the coronavirus. But recent election emergencies largely have been issued as a result of catastrophic weather events, but we had not prepared for pandemics. And 2020 taught all of us a few lessons. I reached out to my husband, who happens to be the clerk in Champaign County, and I asked him of his experience in relationship to the pieces of legislation that are before you today. And I want to share his response. He wants to say thank you, Representative Katie Stuart. And thank you for taking up these issues to expand access to the voters of Illinois. Illinois by no means is a pioneer in the events and issues that stand before you. Drop boxes have been in use in other states for 10200014.docx 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 many, many years. As of this year, in Colorado, California, and several other states, who have already learned some of the things that we are just learning about accessing and expanding voter access. Let me clarify, first and foremost. Number one, the drop boxes. We are very happy that the Democratic Women's Caucus took this on and was working hard to make this available to the people of Illinois for future elections. Drop boxes save taxpayers money. Instead of having to pay postage, that we will talk about, to return their ballots, the drop boxes make it very simple. It is secure. It is safe. And these boxes cannot be walked away with because they are weighing two tons, in some cases, or more. These are very heavy boxes that we have in use. The drop boxes are inexpensive. We paid about 14 thousand in Champaign County for 7 of them. They were very low maintenance and last for at least a decade or more. When you look at the cost associated with postage for every single ballot returned, the counties will save an excessive amount of money as a result of making drop boxes permanent. Convenience of having them in high traffic locations increases accessibility to voters, and they absolutely love them. I wanted to read to you a statement that was sent to our clerk as a result. And this was sent to him from a Republican election judge. The election judge said this, 'I just wanted to let you and Aaron know how much I enjoyed working with you on the VBM work that we did. I really got out of retirement… out of a retirement rut and felt like I was part something bigger than myself.' He goes on to say, 'It was very evident you all put a lot of planning, preparation, and hard work into making our county's VBM 10200014.docx 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 election process work so well. I felt you put a top notch effort on when you made available the drop boxes.' That is a Republican election judge in Champaign County. Curbside voting has already been in statute. We are extremely supportive of curbside voting for some of our residents. It is very difficult for some of them to access a polling location and curbside voting provides them an ability to do so. And lastly, let me speak to the prepaid postage. Yes, prepaid postage will cost election authorities some money, if people forget to put the appropriate postage on there. However, if we put in drop boxes, this will reduce the cost to not only the voter but also to the county. I'll just close that this is an exceptionally excellent piece of legislation, and I ask and urge an 'aye' vote. And thank you, Representative Stuart."

"Chair recognizes Representative Butler."

"She indicates that she will yield."

"Correct."

"I've had discussions and asked for them to do that, yes."

"No."

"No, there won't be."

"Representative."

"Thank you." 10200014.docx 49  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Chair recognizes Representative Halpin."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Sponsor for bringing this Bill. I think if there's one thing we can all agree on, vote by mail was hugely successful in 2020 in the State of Illinois, amidst a pandemic that made many of our constituents weary about exposure to others in long voting lines. Their unease was understandable, especially for our vulnerable populations. Like those over 65, our black and Latino communities, and those with underlying medical conditions. In my county, Rock Island County, out of roughly 67 thousand votes cast, about 28 thousand were vote by mail, which is about 42 percent. And this is personal to me. One of those vote by mail ballots was mine. And I was fortunate that I voted by mail because on Election Day I woke at 5 a.m., ready to start my last day of campaigning, with fever and chills and a headache. Symptom's which were later confirmed to be positive case of COVID. Had I not voted early and had that opportunity, I would have been forced to either sacrifice my right to vote that day or to further risk my health or put 10200014.docx 50  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 others in harm's way to try to vote in person while sick with virus. This should not be a choice any of us or any of our constituents has to make. In addition to those 28 thousand vote by mail ballots, another 12 thousand or so voted early in person, bringing the non-election day votes to about 66 percent of the total votes cast. And these numbers are specific to Rock Island County, but we saw this interest in early voting all across the state. And I think what this shows, what we should learn about this is that the system works. And that includes the drop boxes. It includes the curbside voting. Again, in Rock Island County, our great County Clerk, Karen Kinney, established a drop box outside the county office building. Safe and secure, this box was used for about half of those ballots that were submitted by mail. Our dedicated and reliable election judges, both Democrat and Republican, with professionalism, without discord, regularly checked the drop box to retrieve ballots and ensure that there were no issues with the process. We can trust our local officials to do this job. After those 28 thousand ballots from Rock Island County were counted, there is not a single charge of voter fraud, irregularities. The county simply did its job. And on the flip side, from the voters' perspective, they could take their time at home. They can review the candidates on the ballot, do some research on the Internet, look at the local paper for their endorsements, without the time pressure of having to stand in line to vote, having to quickly get to work, or to pick up their child from day care. They could make sure they didn’t make any mistakes, double and triple check their ballot to make sure they didn’t 10200014.docx 51  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 skip a question. Again, what these things should tell us is that we don’t have to rely on this system only when we have a once in a lifetime threat of pandemic. The system can work, even in normal times. Why should it be any different for a person who wakes up on election day with the flu, or a burst appendix, or other medical conditions, child care emergency, or an unexpectedly have to cover a shift at work to not have the same opportunity to vote that I did? Either early, by mail, or by drop box. At the very least, we should be giving our county clerks the option, as this Bill does, to use these tools every election. The drop boxes aren't mandated. Curbside voting isn't mandated. Every clerk has the flexibility to determine what works best for their county when it comes to providing access. This Bill encourages participation in our democracy. It facilitates an educated voting public. And I would say that the pandemic may have been the trigger to implement these practices, but the pandemic's end should not be reason be cast them aside. And so, I would strongly encourage a 'yes' vote."

Speaker Manley: "Chair recognizes leader Batinick for five minutes."

"Chair recognizes Representative Delgado for five minutes."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. To the Bill. This last election cycle saw a record number of votes across the country. And while we were challenged with the pandemic, we made the efforts, in Illinois, to make voting safe and accessible. In 2020, we passed laws that kept the voting public safe, and the record turnout shows that these provisions were highly successful. House Bill 1871 will take those key provisions that we instituted last year and make them permanent, providing clarity to election authorities and voters alike. The pandemic has forced us to adapt and find new ways to get things done, and, in some cases, better ways to get things done. And this is a perfect example. Drop boxes are a necessary part of a robust vote by mail system. Many of my constituents on the northwest side of the City of Chicago expressed their relief at having a drop box as an alternative. Not only because it is safer than standing in long lines or crowding in a polling place, but because they did not have to rely on the postal system to get the ballot where it needed to be on time. There are rules that ensure that these boxes are safe, secure, and accessible. And providing an opportunity to hand deliver a ballot gives voters the confidence to know that their vote will be counted. And while this legislation does not mandate drop boxes, it makes them a choice for county clerks, which provides the flexibility that they need to administer fair and free elections. Making these specific changes permanent means that voters in my district and across the state, who work long shifts and who 10200014.docx 55  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 have child care responsibilities, can exercise their right to vote without having to take time off work. Those that will claim that there is a heightened fraud possibility with these changes are claiming so with no facts to base that claim on, perpetuating the big lie. Drop boxes, curbside voting, they've existed in other states for many years. So, just like we expanded early voting to accommodate today's realities, we do the same with drop boxes and curbside voting. Making voting easier drives more participation, and a strong democracy thrives on that participation. I want to commend the Sponsor as well. Thank you, Representative, for driving us forward on this issue, and for the House Democratic Women's Caucus for being, and continuing to be, highly engaged about this issue. For these reasons, I strongly encourage an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"Representative Stuart to close."

"Thank you. I have a very vivid memory of… I was 17 years old, in my senior year of high school, and a group came to our English classes to register people to vote. My birthday was going to be November 12, in 1988, when I would turn 18. The election… yes, that makes me 50, for those of you who can't do the math. The election was November 8. So, I was missing the election by four days. And I remember how disappointed I was that I was not able to, along with my peers, register to vote and then look forward to voting in that very next election. I could not wait until the very next opportunity because I know how important it is to vote. My parents have always explained to us that being involved in your democracy is what keeps your democracy alive. We need to 10200014.docx 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 do these measures so that everyone has every opportunity available to them to vote. When people keep… what does not instill faith in our elections is when people keep bringing forward false claims of fraud that does not happen. That’s what's attacking the perception of people's integrity of the ballot. I can tell you what happened to me this year. I did vote by mail for the first time, because I used to always love going to the polling place, whether it was Election Day or during an early voting. But I decided to take advantage of vote by mail because I didn’t know what might happen. Maybe I would become COVID positive. Maybe I wouldn't be able to get to an early voting place. So, I decided to vote by mail. I got a notification that my… and I dropped in a drop box. I got a notification that my vote by mail was not accepted. That tells me that the process works. My county clerk had a system in place. Our election judges looked at the signatures, were not satisfied. So, I had to go and take measures to make sure that my signature matched. So, I had to sign my new voter registration on file so that the signatures matched. I brought my photo ID to identify who I was. There are processes in place to maintain the integrity of our election, and they work. As I said before, I think we need to make these drop boxes available across the board. It's not fair that in some places people have access to them and some places people don’t. I look forward to working with people across the aisle to come up with ways and come up with the regulations that we are going to put on those drop boxes. But until we get that work done, we should allow our election authorities, if they so choose, the availability to have them for the voters. Thank 10200014.docx 57  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 you for your time today, and I would appreciate an 'aye' vote."

"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 1871 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. Members, please come to the floor to vote your own switch. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 70 voting in 'favor', 41 voting 'against'. And this Bill, having… and 0 voting 'present'. This Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Bills on Second Reading, we're going to House Bill 2415. Representative Moeller, Second Reading. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."

"Representative Moeller."

"Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Members of the House. House Bill 2415 allows Kane County to administer and collect a County Cannabis Retailer's Occupation Tax for May 2021 and June 2021. This Bill comes at the request of Kane County, which enacted an ordinance to impose a cannabis sales tax by October 1, 2020, but didn’t file the ordinance with the Department of Revenue until November 2020, essentially missing the deadline for collecting the tax during this fiscal 10200014.docx 58  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 year. Under this Bill, the county will be able to collect the taxes for May and June, and they have already filed the paperwork to start collecting taxes for the subsequent fiscal year. With that, I know of no opposition and would be happy to answer any questions."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Hirschauer."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"She indicates that she will."

"To the Bill. As Representative Moeller mentioned, House Bill 2415 is a simple fix that will allow Kane County to administer a county cannabis sales tax on May 1, 2021, rather than waiting until July 1, 2021. As a Representative from Kane County, I have talked with local elected officials about this Bill and how it will be helpful as a source of additional revenue for local government. The collected revenue will be used to help fund Kane County services that are essential for thousands of residents, like addiction treatment centers and mental health resources. Thank you, to Representative Moeller, for sponsoring this Bill. I urge an 'aye' vote."

"The Chair recognizes Leader Wheeler."

"She indicates that she will."

"Yes, that’s correct." 10200014.docx 59  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Yeah. Yes, that's correct."

"That's correct."

"Chair recognizes Representative Kifowit."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"

"She indicates that she will."

"Thank you. To the Bill. As an individual that has represented Kane County… and actually I was an alderman for the City of Aurora. So, I know Kane County quite well. I wanted to put on the record that this situation seemed to stem from a miscommunication of a new program. And that currently, in working with the new members of the board and the board chair, that certain protocols and processes are in place so that Kane County can be… assure this Body that there will not be a problem like this again and that this is a one- time occurrence. And again, with a new system, I believe it was just a miscommunication and a simple error that occurred. So, thank you, Madam Chair."

"Representative Moeller to close."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Members of the House. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this legislation. And would urge an 'aye' vote. Thank you." 10200014.docx 60  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 2415 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. Members, please come to the floor and vote your own switch. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? While we wait for the Members to come to the floor, those that are here, couple reminders. You're asked to respect social distancing. That's six feet apart, please. And keep your masks on if you're not drinking. Thank you. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 100 voting in 'favor', 10 voting 'against', 0 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bills on Second Reading, House Bill 2877. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."

"Chair recognizes Representative Ramirez."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. House Bill 2877 is the housing Bill that we have been working on since the beginning of the pandemic last March. As you may recall, we voted for this Bill during lame duck Session just a few months ago. This Bill offers a comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis of housing and stability that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides protections for those at risk of eviction and relief to homeowners and 10200014.docx 61  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 renters at risk of losing their homes. The Bill protects tenants by sealing evictions during the COVID-19 period. It addresses the foreclosure crisis by creating a moratorium on foreclosure filings through May 1 and a pause on judicial sales and taking of possession through July 31. This Bill also creates clear guidelines for state agencies administering the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, including the December stimulus and also the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan. I want to highlight… thank you, Madam Speaker. I really appreciate that. So, colleagues, I'm almost done. I know that housing is important you. So, I'll get through this quickly. Biden's administration passed additional assistance, and I want to highlight a few of those guidelines. Our Bill removes barriers for tenants and landlords to apply and prioritizes the most in need with the federal guidelines. It also makes sure that we don't have a cap on the amount of assistance that we could provide for tenants who owe significant arrears. These are some of the key issues you all have expressed with the first round of rental assistance we passed last year. The changes we have made will ensure the program is effective in reaching those in need and efficient in getting an aid out as quickly as possible. So, the Bill balances the needs and concerns of tenants, of landlords, of homeowners, and the finance industry. We are creating protections for people at risk of eviction. We are protecting homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure. And we are making sure that financial relief will be administered effectively and efficiently. I urge a 'yes' vote." 10200014.docx 62  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Chair recognizes Representative Collins."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Does the Sponsor yield?"

"She indicates that she will."

"Leader Hernandez, how many families will HB2877 help? How many families will House Bill 2877 help?"

"The program will help thousands and thousands of families in Illinois. As a matter of fact, quadruple the assistance that we've already provided."

"And what damages does a record on eviction do to families?"

"To your question… just to hear you, 'cause it’s a little hard to hear from the sound. You're asking, what's the damage to a family that has an eviction?"

"Yes."

"An eviction filing record is something that's going to haunt a family for seven years. And so, it means that if you have gone through COVID, if a family member died because of COVID, you are unable to pay rent and there is an eviction filing, even though there wasn't a judgement, that will cause additional barriers to housing for families for years to come."

"Thank you, Leader. As we, as a state, continue the hard work of the past year to right the ship that was wrecked due to COVID-19, as we open up our state and get our economy back on track, we must not forget the people who make the economy run, the people who make our state great. The majority of those folks are renters. And we can't make our state run unless people have a safe, affordable place to live. Evictions and the mark it leaves on families, especially during this 10200014.docx 63  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 pandemic, isn't the result of poverty, but as Matthew Desmond, a professor at Princeton, states, 'It oftentimes cause itself.' For those of you who don't know, this is what happens when a family is evicted. The family lose their home, the kids lose their school, their neighborhood. They might lose their stuff, which is left on the street or on the front lawn of the property. What eviction sealing does is it protects those families from losing something crucial, which is the ability to have a clean record and find housing elsewhere. So, let's be clear. The families that are losing their homes during this pandemic are not losing them because the mismanaged funds or because they're lazy. They're losing them because something none of us could control swept down and took their jobs, or made them sick, and caused them significant financial trouble. This Bill, House Bill 2877, aims to alleviate this with rental relief, foreclosure relief, so that homeowners and small landlords, who we know heavily rent to tenants, can keep their properties. But also, that families who have lost so much during this pandemic don't leave it with a mark on their record that prevents them from starting anew somewhere safe, as we all recover from this turbulent crisis. This is the start to what we can do, and we can’t wait any longer. We have to put ourselves in our constituents' shoes because across Illinois we need this. And we need them to make our state run. We need them to fully recover. We have two choices here. One, we could turn our backs on the people we serve and give them less to recover with. Or two, we could give them this as a starting point so we could get through this pandemic together, protected, safe, 10200014.docx 64  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 and on a path to true recovery. Leader Hernandez, I commend you for standing on the frontlines for people who are looking at evictions. You have already compromised enough with this Bill, and today enough is enough. I urge an 'aye' vote on House Bill 2877. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Mazzochi."

"She indicates that she will."

"So, what they're using is, they're using IDPH's numbers, and they're using their information on the positive COVID cases across the State of Illinois in order to determine the highest impact in the DIA."

"The intent of the Bill, Representative, is to bring rent relief assistance. If you're talking about the program itself on rent relief, it's to ensure that we bring assistance to people from Chicago to the end of the state in East St. Louis that need the assistance right now." 10200014.docx 65  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Representative, the Bill… the language in the Bill says that IHDA should prioritize to their best effort. That’s their best effort, that it goes to these areas, but it gives them the flexibility in order to ensure that, as people are applying, that they are being approved. As you can tell from the Bill language, this is going to allow for significant money. We're talking about $1.4 billion of rental assistance to get through the State of Illinois for all of those applications."

"So, we want to make sure that, if they apply, that they're able to get the assistance."

"My Bill states administering agencies. In the event that there is more than one agency that is going to be administering these funds, it is my understanding from the Governor's Office, the Illinois Department of Human Services 10200014.docx 66  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 will be partnering with IHDA to administer these services, these resources in order to ensure that they get to as many people as quickly as possible."

"The Federal Government."

"The rulemaking components of that federal program that administering agencies will take the funds and then, therefore, disburse is not part of this Bill. That is something that the Governor's Office, through the administering agencies, be IHDA or be the Department of Human Services. I have no power in controlling that. The money went 10200014.docx 67  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 through DCEO, and then they're going to work with those administering agencies. That will be their responsibility to do so. However, I do want to note something, Representative. Any of the administering agencies, be it one or two that are responsible for administering these funds, are required by Federal Law to go through the Statewide Single Audit. And that is an annual audit that will be available to all of us to ensure that they are honoring and abiding by all the guidelines in which will be required for this program."

"Representative Mazzochi, pardon me one second. Representative Batinick has told me he's going to give you his five minutes. Please proceed."

"Representative Mazzochi."

"I think Representative Bos will yield his time to you."

"The Chair recognizes Representative LaPointe."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. Will the Sponsor yield?" 10200014.docx 71  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"She indicates that she will."

"Leader Ramirez, I have a few questions for you. We all know that we've been dealing with a public health and economic crisis for a full year. People have had their incomes slashed, and that became a problem almost immediately a year ago. And that immediately created housing instability and a lot of anxiety for both tenants and landlords. How long have you been working on a Bill like this that would actually provide housing relief through legislation?"

"Representative, this week marks one whole year that we have been working on emergency housing legislation so that your constituents, and your constituents, and your constituents, and my constituents can have a safe home to go to and to stay in. It's been over a year."

"Over a full year. So, I'm also hearing, over a full year, that this Bill has been through a few different iterations. All the while, the pressure for relief for both tenants and landlords is building. Has the opposition to this Bill changed over the whole year that you've been working on this?"

"Yes, the opposition has changed. And we have neutralized the opposition from the REALTORS Association, from the finance industry, with the Amendment that this Bill has. And this new Bill, during this new Session, it has also neutralized opposition from other stakeholders that had concerns, like the community bankers, the credit unions. As we were talking about the foreclosure section, after Amendment, after Amendment, after Amendment and heavy, heavy negotiation, this is a really good Bill that will address the 10200014.docx 72  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 issues of our tenants, who are families and children, our landlords, who are families and have children, our finance industry, and everyone in the housing market."

"That actually gives me a lot of confidence that this Bill is about housing stability during the biggest crisis of our lifetimes. Not only for tenants, but also for landlords, in particular, small landlords. This is the kind of Bill that New York actually passed in December 2020, when most of us were getting ready to take a holiday break. This Bill recognizes that the very last thing that we want to do in a public health crisis is put people out of their homes. I'm going to speak to the Bill. A year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, we asked people to stay home. But what does that mean for people that don't actually have homes? Or what about our people who have been living under… who immediately started living under this specter of becoming homeless, like our hospitality workers or our convention workers, who, about one year ago, all of a sudden had no income and all of a sudden faced housing instability for the first time in their lives. I am actually a little disappointed that we haven't done more in Illinois, legislatively, in terms of housing in response to this pandemic. We really haven't managed to do that much except for making sure we have more rental assistance dollars for our tenants and landlords. So, now, the federal stimulus package that's finally sending help that we desperately need, through that… through those federal dollars… which those federal dollars are coming to us, here in Illinois, either way, thankfully. But we have an opportunity to codify that rental assistance, to make sure it 10200014.docx 73  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 gets out the door more effectively and efficiently to every corner of Illinois. The Illinois Housing Development Authority, which we've heard a little bit about so far in this debate, that state agency responded to our first wave of federal rental assistance and they stood up a program in two months. The Governor signed the Bill on June 10, and they opened applications for rental assistance on August 10. So, two short months. There were many lessons learned through that process which then became the parts of this Bill that codify rental assistance. A structure that will ensure the assistance flows quickly and efficiently to tenants and small landlords who need it in every corner of Illinois. Again, this money thankfully is coming, and, no, it's not enough. So, there's been some concerns raised about the oversight of this funding. There's been some parallels to IDES. And, frankly, I think everyone in this room has been traumatized by DHS. But IHDA is nothing like DHS. They have incrementally built up their capacity to be able to administer $570 million of rental assistance. They successfully administered 215 million in rental assistance in the summer and fall. I have sat through three briefings from IHDA where they talked about the lessons learned and how they're going to do things differently, like better outreach, better PR to make sure landlords all across the state are aware of this rental assistance program. So, our small landlords and our tenants will get relief not just through the rental assistance, but also through our pause on foreclosures and judicial sales. These are the exact provisions of this Bill that are based on 10200014.docx 74  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 so many conversations for the last year with realtors… the realtors…"

"Representative, can you bring you comments to a close, please?"

"Absolutely. And the financial industry. They've asked us and they've told… we've asked them, what can we do? And this was their answer. So, we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. That last thing we want to do is create more housing instability by failing to act today. I thank you, Leader Ramirez, for your leadership and persistence on this Bill. I'm proud to vote 'yes' on behalf of both tenants and landlords all across this state. A 'no' vote on this Bill makes it harder for our landlords to be made whole. And it means less dollars to every community across the State of Illinois. Thank you for your leadership, and I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Chair recognizes Leader Ammons."

"Thank you, Ms. Speaker. May I ask the Sponsor a few questions?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. Leader Ramirez, can you explain if… are these dollars are going to come regardless of what we do here today?"

"Yes. Leader, the money's coming regardless. And so, if we are concerned that the administering agencies are not going to have adequate or enough monitoring, this Bill actually puts in provisions that ensures that a lot of the concerns that both sides of the aisle are expressing, in fact, get addressed." 10200014.docx 75  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"And so, if we… if we don't pass this Bill, the money will still come to the State of Illinois, but it won't have the direction that this Bill gives it and it won’t have the oversight that you've put… built into this Bill, correct?"

"That is correct."

"Can you also explain the process, the court process, of evictions? What you're trying to do not only to protect renters but also the homeowners in this process?"

"Sorry. Can you repeat the question?"

"Absolutely. Yes. I just wanted to… I know your Bill is designed to help the homeowner as well as the renter. Can you explain the process that this Bill does to protect both the homeowner and the renter?"

"The Bill makes sure that landlords can apply for the federal assistance, versus the program we had prior, where just tenants could apply, landlords can apply as well and work in partnership with the tenant to do so. And all of the money will go directly to the landlord, ensuring that we are addressing the rent that has been owed. Secondly, the Bill makes sure that, in addition to Federal Law, that we put provisions to protect small landlords and homeowners from foreclosures and from any judicial sales of their property to an extended period of time. And then, in terms of tenants, it ensures that we seal evictions that have happened during the COVID period so that what happened during COVID doesn’t happen for years to come, causing even more barriers to permanent housing."

"And a part of this Bill really focuses on low income residents. Is this your intention to make this available to 10200014.docx 76  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 low income residents? Not in the case of trying to institute all these fraud things that people are suggesting, but is it to assist those low income residents so that they are not homeless at the end of this COVID crisis?"

"Yes, that is correct. So, we want to make sure… I know people have said, oh, this is going to be fraud and people are going to buy luxury homes. This is about getting people who need assistance for their housing as quickly as possible, really prioritizing people within the 80 percent of an area median income and 50 percent of the area median income."

"Can you also, just for the legislative intent, express how this Bill directs the funding to localities?"

"So, if a county has more than 200 thousand residents, the Federal Government will be sending them the money directly. Anything outside of that will go through the administering agencies, like Department of Human Service and IHDA, and a tenant or a landlord can apply for the assistance. And, because of this Bill, if someone owes $9 thousand, not 5, or $12 thousand they will be able to have access to this as quickly as possible. So, these checks will be made directly to the landlord."

"Thank you. Thank you for answering those quick questions. I just want to speak to the Bill in the last few minutes allowable. Over the last year and now continuing the last year and almost a half, we've experienced, in Champaign County, an increase in the number of people that are facing evictions in a way that we have never experienced at all. We can't ignore the impact of the COVID crises on working class people, those who do not have guaranteed incomes. Because we 10200014.docx 77  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 don't have guaranteed incomes in Illinois, people who lose their jobs tend to lose their housing, tend to, in some cases, lose their children. And the snowball continues to roll downhill. This is a good piece of legislation. Yes, we are concerned about the instances of fraud. But I assure you, those are much smaller than the instances of helping those who are most needy at this time. It would be a very irresponsible act for this state to allow people to be evicted from their homes during a pandemic and a crises of this magnitude. I highly urge an 'aye' vote in response to Representative Ramirez's request on House Bill 2877. And I do hope that we are able to save our communities. Thank you, Representative."

"Representative… Leader Ramirez to close."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Over the last few months, I've heard people on that side of the aisle and I've heard people on this side of the aisle talk about economic recovery. Economic recovery. Economic recovery. I want you to hear that clearly. We cannot economically recover from a pandemic that has killed thousands, and thousands, and thousands of our constituents if we don't ensure that they can stay in their home so that they can also take their children to school, so that they can pay their utilities, so that they can go to church, so that they can get back and recover. Getting this Bill to this point has been among my top priorities over the last year, but I haven't done it alone. I've had reliable partners, like Representative LaPointe here, who has literally worked on this Bill with me night and day nonstop. I've had other partners, like Chairman Guzzardi, in the 10200014.docx 78  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Housing Committee, who, on 9:00 meetings with some of the stakeholders, has met with us, listened, and helped us identify Amendments. We've had Leaders, like Leader Ammons, and Representative Cassidy, and Leader Hernandez, and Representative Collins, just to name a few who have said to me, 'Representative, if I don't do something about housing in my district, I can't go back to my district.' So, here's what I'll say. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the broad coalition that has continued to make housing a top priority. To all the housing advocates who have worked tirelessly by my side to draft, to negotiate, and champion this Bill, thank you. I specially want to thank the staff at the Shriver Center, the Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, and Housing Action Illinois. This work would not have been possible without you. Finally, but certainly not least, folks, we don’t thank our staff enough. I want to say a special thank you to the staff who have spent endless nights, holidays, weekends, taking all of their personal time to make this Bill possible. I want to say thank you to Luis, my Chief of Staff, and to Katherine Bray, who has worked so hard on this Bill. Thank you. You are unsung heroes, and I wouldn't be literally standing here on these heels if it weren't for you. And so, colleagues, I stand before you today, asking you, do you care about economic recovery? Do you care about the landlords in your district? Do you care about the tenants? Cause there's also tenants in your district. Because if you do, I'm asking you to vote 'yes' for tenants. I'm asking you to vote 'yes' for homeowners. I'm asking you to vote 'yes' 10200014.docx 79  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 for landlords. I'm asking you to vote 'yes' for an economic recovery. I urge an 'aye' vote. Thank you, Madam Speaker."

"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 2877 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. Members, please come to the floor and vote your switches now. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 73 voting in 'favor', 31 voting 'against', and 8 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Mr. Clerk, Rules Report."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Mah. We can stand at ease. The Chair recognizes Representative Mah."

"Madam Speaker, I'd like a point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today with great sadness and anger in the wake of yet another horrific mass shooting in our country. One that took the lives of eight people, the majority of whom were Asian American women. On March 16, 2021, a shooter reigned terror on three Atlanta, Georgia area spas, killing his victims, including six Asian American women. I think it's important to speak their names, though only three have been officially identified by name so far, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and at least three others 10200014.docx 80  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 who have been confirmed to have been immigrants from South Korea. These women were mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, friends, and community members. They were people going about their daily business only to be gunned down in cold blood. They were invisible until their brutal murders forced them to the forefront, into our collective consciousness. The murders of these women need to be seen in the context of racism in this country and more than a year of heightened xenophobia directed at Asian Americans. This past year, we saw our former President insist on using racially charged terms in reference to COVID-19, insisting on calling it the China virus and kung flu and openly blaming China and Chinese people for the pandemic. Recently we have seen a rash of brutal attacks against Asian Americans all across the country. A troubling spike in racial violence directed at Asian Americans that has been terrifying as well as heart- rending. The tendency to see Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners, bringers of disease, helpless targets, or expendable victims is part of a long history of racism in this country, and it's something that needs to change. We must also move from ignoring Asian Americans and perpetuating our invisibility. Asian Americans helped to build this country, from its infrastructure to it economy, with labor that has been largely unrecognized, invisible, like the women who were murdered on Tuesday. The notion that we are a model minority is… in which we have all done well and overcome racism is obviously a dangerous myth if we have members of our community stuck in low wage, exploitative jobs, working in massage parlors, and seen as expendable. Again, these women 10200014.docx 81  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 were mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, friends, and community members. Just as Asian Americans in our country are complex, multi-dimensional people from a multitude of ethnic backgrounds, educational levels, economic statuses, language abilities, political stripes, and walks of life. The first step in combating the hate is to learn more about our communities. To see us, we are not invisible. To hear us, we have complex needs and issues, and we refuse to be silent. And to understand that Asian Americans have a long history in this country. We are part of its fabric, not simply recent immigrants or invisible labor. On this day, during Women's History Month, I'm proud to stand here with three other Asian American women Members of the Illinois House of Representatives to deplore and condemn, in no uncertain terms, hate crimes against Asian Americans and to honor the memories of the six Asian American women, mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, friends, community members who were lost… who tragically lost their lives this week. I ask the Body for a moment of silence."

"The Body will take a moment of silence. Thank you, Representative. The Chair recognizes Representative Gong-Gershowitz."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. Point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed."

"I rise, in honor of Women's History Month, to tell you a little bit about Patsy Mink. After attending the University of Chicago Law School, Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink returned to her home state of Hawaii to pursue her career in 10200014.docx 82  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 1952, but was unable to find work after passing the bar as a result of her interracial marriage. Mink went on to establish her own practice, making her the first Japanese American woman to practice law in the State of Illinois. Mink began her campaign for Congress in 1959 but was unsuccessful. In 1962, she continued her efforts and instead sought and was elected to the Hawaii State Senate. In 1964, Mink was eventually elected to serve as the first Asian American woman in Congress, where she fought for bilingual education, access to affordable child care, and racial equity. Contributing to the fabric of American history, we honor Patsy Mink. Thank you."

"The Chair recognizes Representative Willis."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise for a point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed."

"Thank you. Also, in honor Women's History Month, I'd like to recognize a woman that I had a personal connection to, Judy Baar Topinka. She was a family friend of mine, lifelong Republican, but I think she was also a person that knew how to reach across the aisle. And I hope that, as I continue my career, I can do the same as what Judy has done. To give you a little background on Judy, she was born… she was a lifelong resident of the Village of Riverside. She attended local public schools there and got her degree from Northwestern University in the world of journalism. For over 11 years she wrote for the local papers and did… was thrilled to always work on her political aspects on there. In 1980, she began her political career as a State Representative for the area. And then, she went on to serve two years in the 10200014.docx 83  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Illinois House of Representatives. And then, in 1984… two terms, I'm sorry. And then, in '84, went to the Illinois State Senate. She served for Senator… as a Senator there for over a decade. And, in 1994, she was elected as the Illinois State Treasurer, becoming the first woman in Illinois history to hold that post. She, again, became famous in history when she was also the first woman to be re-elected as the State Treasurer, and then, again, for a third term. During her time she was extremely fiscally responsible, one of the best things that we could ever have in a Treasurer. And I am so proud of all the work she did that. She went on to have a campaign as a Governor, which, unfortunately, was unsuccessful. And we all know how that turned out, so we won't go there. And, in 2010, Judy was elected though as Comptroller, becoming the first person in Illinois history to ever be elected for both fiscal constitutional offices. She was re-elected in 2014 and, unfortunately, had an untimely death just before she took over for her next term in office. She took pride in her Czech and Slavic heritage and had a great relationship throughout the Illinois… the State of Illinois with Czechoslovakian residents and was extremely known for that. She always was… important to keep her family values in there, worked hard in education and public service, and continued to mentor those that were all around her. Her only agenda as a public servant was to simply help the people. She demonstrated that attitude to fellow Illinois citizens by her words, deeds, and action. I hold Judy Baar Topinka as someone that we all should hope to be as well as. Thank you very much." 10200014.docx 84  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Members, reminder, masks must be worn while you're not drinking and have to cover both your nose and mouth. Just a reminder. The Chair recognizes Representative Greenwood."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed."

"I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. As the daughter of a maid and a sharecropper, Bessie Coleman grew up helping her mother pick cotton and wash clothes in order to save money to attend college one day. After dropping out of what is now Langston University in Oklahoma, because she could no longer afford it, Coleman eventually moved to Chicago to live with her brothers who told her stories of their time spent in France during World War I. When Coleman learned that women in France could learn to fly airplanes, while she was, as an American, could not, she became determined to become a pilot. Coleman applied to flight schools across the country but was continuously denied admittance because she was both African American and a woman. Refusing to give up on her dreams, Coleman began taking evening French classes and submitting an application to the Caudron Brothers' School of Aviation in France. She received her international pilot's license on June 15, 1921. In 1922, she became the first African American woman to perform a public flight. Bessie Coleman. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Burke."

"Thank you, Speaker. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to introduce you to Ellen Martin. Born in 1847 in 10200014.docx 85  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 New York, Ellen Martin became the first female law student in Chautauqua County, before graduating from the University of Michigan in 1875 and being admitted to the Illinois Bar the following year. Martin and a colleague opened a law firm on LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago but were prohibited from arguing cases in court and could not be considered true lawyers because they were not permitted to vote. On April 6, 1891, Martin became the first woman in Illinois to vote, after arriving at a polling place and demanding that she and others be allowed to vote pursuant to a local rule that stated that all citizens above the age of 21 years shall be entitled to vote at any corporation election. On July 1, 1913, an Act providing that women of legal age in Illinois could vote for all statutory offices became law. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative Avelar."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Please proceed."

"In honor of Women's History Month, I'd like to recognize Sandra Cisneros. The internationally recognized writer, poet, and scholar, Sandra Cisneros, was born in Chicago in 1954 and earned her Bachelors of Art degree in English from Loyola University in 1976, and her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa in 1978. Cisneros worked as a creative writing teacher, counselor, and college recruiter throughout her career and is most known for her work titled The House on Mango Street, which has sold over 6 million copies and has been translated into over 20 languages. Cisneros is one of the first Latinx writers to achieve commercial success and is celebrated for her works that helped 10200014.docx 86  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 highlight the importance of the Chicana movement in literary feminism. Cisneros has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Art from President Barack Obama, established the Macondo Foundation for Socially Engaged Writers, and the Alfredo Cisneros Del Moral Foundation that provided grants to writers for 15 years. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sandra Cisneros. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Rep… excuse me… Leader Ramirez."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my honor to stand here before you today and to talk to you about a woman that has transformed Chicago, has transformed the State of Illinois, and this entire country. Today I want to talk to you about Karen Lewis. Karen Lewis grew up in Chicago and went to Chicago Public Schools. She left high school before graduation after accepting an early admission to attend Mount Holyoke. Karen later transferred to Dartmouth College. She was the only black woman in her graduating class of 1974. She is the only… she was the only president of a teachers' union who is also a nationally board certified teacher. Karen Lewis' leadership was transformational. It's rare that you can say that one person changed things in our city, our state, and country, but Karen did. And she did it which such style, and grace, and wit, and a fighting spirit that just could not be stopped. She literally changed the face of labor in Chicago and nationally. Karen Lewis' leadership and vision turned the Chicago Teachers Union in one of the nation's most democratic and inspiring unions, remaking the fabric of our city and nation and touching of hundreds of thousands of lives in the process, making our children her priority and the union's 10200014.docx 87  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 priority. She helped transform the political landscape of Chicago, paving the way for women like me to be able to run for office. Everyday women who understand why it's so important that people that look like them, talk like them, come from their communities, and know what poverty looks like run for office and represent them. In 2010, we were told we were waiting for Superman to fix our public schools. It turns out we were waiting for a Superwoman, a lifelong educator, and a disciplined labor leader who changed the trajectory of education reform in Chicago and our nation. Karen had the courage to fight back and inspired many others, including myself, to be part of grassroots movements that empower black and brown communities for real representation, quality neighborhood schools for every child. Karen had the political clarity, the courage that very few people exhibit during tough times. But more than anything, Karen had a heart. Karen ignited the grassroots education movement in Chicago, and her leadership, compassion, and integrity will always be remembered. Her legacy and spirit lives in every teacher who is fighting today for equity and justice. And her powerful work continues to inspire solidarity between parents, teachers, and community at large to fight for schools that our children deserve. And so, Karen Lewis left this earth on February 7, 2021, just a month ago. But who she is, what she has been to our children will live the hearts of thousands of us in the City of Chicago, in other cities in the State of Illinois, in the state and the country because Karen Lewis is one of us. Karen Lewis will always be one of us. And her 10200014.docx 88  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 commitment to love and our children, undoubtedly, will change us forever. Thank you."

"Chair recognizes Representative McCombie."

"Well done, Representative. Chair recognizes Representative Harper." 10200014.docx 89  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Thank you, Madam Chair. Today I rise to give honor to one of our very own, for Women's History Month, on behalf of the Illinois House Democratic Women's Caucus. Today we honor Deputy Majority Leader Mary Flowere. Influenced by her mother, Harold Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King, and encouraged by Carol Moseley Braun, Earlean Collins, Monique Davis, and many others, Leader Mary Flowers has become an icon of leadership, mentorship, and public service. As the longest serving black Legislator in the Illinois General Assembly, Leader Flowers has inspired all of us with her courage, dedication, and passion for the people she represents. Since joining the Illinois House of Representatives in 1985, Leader Flowers has demanded equality for black and brown communities, worked tirelessly to expand access to health care, and blazed a trail for the women following in her footsteps. Today we honor her legacy and thank her for all that she has done for the residents of Illinois. Thank you, Madam Speaker."

"Chair recognizes Representative Lilly."

"Thank you, Madam Chair. And happy Women's History Month to all. I want to thank the Body for listening to the 7 dynamic women that have blazed a trail for many of us who are here, the 46 of us who are serving the Illinoisans here in the General Assembly, the 102nd General Assembly. I want to thank the women who shared their passion and their concern for the legacy. But this could not have been done without the support of Jessica, Katie, Katie… it's two Katies… and Dwight. We want to thank you for being a part of Women's History Month by providing us with the information and the support. We thank 10200014.docx 90  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 you. With that, I ask all the women join us for a group photo on the second floor, not the first. The second floor by the stairs because we're going to do a little social distancing. But please join us, because the 102nd General Assembly represents a good number of women and good number of fine men. So, with that, thank you all. And again, happy Women's History Month."

"Representative Lilly, that's after we adjourn, correct?"

"That is correct."

"Okay. Don't anybody leave. After we adjourn, we'll meet on the second floor. Chair recognizes Representative Haas."

"Chair recognizes Leader Hernandez." Hernandez, L.: "Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm asking the General Assembly to welcome one of our newest Members, and I'm going to say her name with a little spice. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar is our newest Member. Now, let me tell you something. If you remember the day, that first day, when you would come to Springfield… you've never been to Springfield, let's say, other than like a field trip. You take that ride down to Springfield and try to find… where is my parking space. You get into the building and you… it occurs to you, you don't have a picture. So, they're questioning who are you, and you're not even on the rolls yet. And then, the next task is looking for your office with no key. So, that was… that was Representative Angelica's day today. So, what I'm asking, give her a warm welcome and… she is our Representative that replaced our Speaker Madigan. And…"

"Go ahead, Lisa." Hernandez, L.: "I was just going to say that Angelica replaced the Speaker Madigan seat, and this is really, actually her first time here. So, I really ask to give her guidance, help her around. She's a wonderful person, and you soon will see that. Thank you."

"Representative Guerrero-Cuellar, would you like to say a few words? I can't say that as well as Lisa." 10200014.docx 93  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Yes, I will. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Lisa, thank you very much. Thank you to everybody for the warm welcomes. I can say that walking into this building in this capacity has been very surreal. And what I represent, that comes with me, all the women in my life who have impacted me and the name that I carry, I can't even describe. But everybody has been so welcoming. Thank you on both sides, and I appreciate it. And I'm here to work and work with you. Thank you."

"Welcome to Springfield. Chair recognizes Leader Durkin."

"Please proceed, Sir."

"Chair recognizes Representative Buckner."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today just to join all of the students, faculty, staff, alumni, fans, and proud members of the Fighting Illini Nation in celebrating what has, thus far, been an amazing season for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team. On Sunday, the Fighting Illini team earned their third overall Big Ten Tournament Title and their first title since my days on campus 10200014.docx 94  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 in 2005, in 91 to 88 overtime victory against the Ohio State University. The Illini were led by… with 16 points from Kofi Cockburn, Andre Curbelo, and Ayo Dosunmu. Not just an Illini graduate, but a graduate of Morgan Park High School on the South Side of Chicago, like myself and Representative Evans. He was named the most outstanding player of the 2021 Big Ten Tournament. Peoria's own, Da'Monte Williams, added 13 points, with a perfect 3 for 3 from behind the arc. And Giorgi Bezhanishvili added 12 points and 6 rebounds. Sunday's victory was a true team effort. The Illini added 41 points off the bench, including contributions from Jacob Grandison and Adam Miller, also from Peoria and Morgan Park High School. And the Illini now head to the NCAA Tournament as the number one seed in the Midwest region. This is the fourth time the Illini have been selected as number one seed and the first since the magical 2005 NCAA Tournament. Here is to Coach Brad Underwood and his team for giving us something to smile about. We are excited for what's to come. Oskee-Wow-Wow."

"Leader Harris in the Chair. Representative Batinick, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please state your point."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the House will stand at ease for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes we will resume. So, please do not go far from your seat. House will come back to order. On page 4 of the Calendar appears Senate Bills on Second Reading, Senate Bill 72, Representative Hoffman. Mr. Clerk."

"Representative Hoffman."

"Yes. Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I would ask that we adopt, if it's okay, Floor Amendment #2, move the Bill to Third Reading. And this will become the Bill, and we can debate it on Third."

"Representative Hoffman has moved that Floor Amendment #2 to Senate Bill 72 be adopted. All in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Amendment is adopted. Any further Amendments, Mr. Clerk?"

"Third Reading. Please read the Bill."

"Representative Hoffman."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Senate Bill 72, as amended, is a Bill that… that would essentially replace the provisions that were contained in House Bill 3360. House Bill 3360 was a Bill that was passed 10200014.docx 96  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 in January, through the House and through the Senate, that provided for prejudgment interest in Illinois for individuals who are plaintiffs and who were injured in personal injury cases. That Bill is currently on the Governor's desk, and there have been several organizations that have expressed concerns regarding that Bill. So, this is an attempt to address the vast majority of those concerns and make sure that we are mindful of the issues that have been brought before us by organizations, like the Illinois Hospital Association and organizations like the Health Care Council of Illinois. Now, since we have adopted this Amendment, the Illinois Hospital… Illinois Health and Hospital Association is officially neutral on the Bill and has provided a statement to the Members of the Illinois General Assembly on this Bill. In addition, the Health Care Council of Illinois, the largest nursing home and long term care organization in Illinois, is also neutral on the Bill. Why are they neutral on the Bill? I think because we attempted and we did address many of the concerns that were brought forward by the provider organizations. This Bill would no longer be subject or a condition of the signing of the Bill, House Bill 3360. So, it is not a trailer Bill. It is a stand-alone Bill. It would, like 46 other states, provide prejudgment interest in Illinois, and it would be a six percent per annum of the judgement amount. Six percent. The original Bill that passed to the Governor regarding prejudgment interest was nine percent. So, we agreed to a three percent reduction in the interest rate. Also, the original Bill that passed to the Governor indicated that the prejudgment interest began to 10200014.docx 97  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 accrue upon notice to the defendant. However, this Bill indicates that the prejudgment interest won't begin to accrue until a case if filed. Also, it indicates that the prejudgment interest would not accrue on punitive damage, sanctions, statutory attorney's fees, or statutory costs. It indicates that the plaintiff voluntarily dismisses the case, then the interest will be tolled during the time that it is dismissed. It accrues… the accrual period for prejudgment interest is capped at five years. And, in addition, the effective date has been moved out to July 1, 2021. July 1, 2021. Hopefully, by that time, the vast majority of Illinoisans will be vaccinated and we'll be on the other side of this horrid pandemic. Finally, and I think as important as anything, and one of the reason that the Illinois Health and Hospital Association is now neutral, is a provision that is like other states that indicates that, within the first 12 months, if a defendant makes an offer for settlement and that is not accepted or is rejected in a timely manner by the plaintiff that the interest that… that interest amount will be determined by the difference between the offered amount and the amount, ultimately, of the judgement. Again, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association is now neutral on the Bill. The Health Care Council of Illinois is neutral on the Bill. And I ask for a favorable roll call."

"Thank you, Representative. You know, we'll be continuing to have three speakers on either side and a time limit of five minutes. Leader Durkin."

"He indicates he will yield." 10200014.docx 98  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"As I indicated in my opening remarks, we… several provisions were put in at the request of those organizations. First of all…"

"I just went through them, and I'll go through them again for you."

"I'll go through them."

"Okay. So, initially, we had a nine percent interest rate. They thought that that was too high. It's been lowered to six percent. There was issues that were brought to my attention concerning the issue of when the interest rate would begin to accrue. And under the Bill that was sent to the Governor in January, the interest rate began to accrue upon notice to the defendant. This… the interest rate does not begin to accrue until the case is filed."

"Currently in Illinois we don't have prejudgment interest. We don't have prejudgment interest. We have post- judgement interest."

"And that is at nine percent." 10200014.docx 99  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"No, it is not."

"It is for…"

"In tort, yes."

"Yes."

"They have not."

"You'd have to ask them that. I don't know…"

"I tried to talk to them. They indicated to me that they would not negotiate until the other Bill was vetoed by the Governor."

"No, because I believe that… I want… I wanted to address some of the issues that were before us." 10200014.docx 100  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Yes. And we also, at the request of… at the request of the Governor's Office, they wanted to make sure it was clear that the state would not be liable for prejudgment interest."

"They are not."

"Not if there is a judgement, a personal injury judgement, against them."

"They do not."

"They do not."

"No, they do not."

"I don't want to answer incorrectly 'cause I don't… I'm not sure how… I'm not sure how the Cook County Hospital is incorporated, if it's a governmental entity."

"I can tell you what…"

"The Bill exempts units of local government."

"I don't… that is incorrect. This… the prejudgment interest only applies to judgements. Cases that are settled, prejudgment interest doesn't apply. Ninety-seven percent of the cases that are filed are… never make it to trial. They are settled. Three percent of the ones that do go to trial, not all of those result in a verdict for the plaintiff. So, the facts have to be proved, negligence has to be proved, or, in the case of strict liability, strict liability has to be proved. A jury or the judge has to then indicate an award. The whole idea of tort is to make… is to make plaintiffs whole. That is the underlying reason we have torts. And to not pay some type of interest because a defendant may have decided to delay in order to get a better deal or to prolong a case should not be something we should stand for."

"This… this is prejudgment interest."

"That means your only get the interest…"

"…if the judgment is entered against the defendant."

"Can I… can I just…"

"I… this is not me taking issue with your statement. I just want to tell you one of the things that is in the Bill that I think is critical that addresses some of that concern, right? It wasn't in the original Bill. This Bill follows many other states that say, if you make an offer of settlement, a defendant, and it is… it is denied or not taken by a plaintiff, right, and is done within the first year, that ultimately that amount that was offered will be deducted in determining how much the interest would be from the verdict. So, if it… if you were offered a million dollars, there is a verdict of 2 million, then the interest will only be calculated on the… the difference."

"I don't have it with me, but I think there's like 20… 29 or 30 states that have like an offer type… type system."

"And there's 46 that have prejudgment interest, 46." 10200014.docx 104  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Yes, and to make plaintiff's whole if there is a judgment."

"I don't believe this will result in all cases being settled."

"Yes."

"It's… it's to address the issue of delay, to ensure that we move the cases through the system as quickly as possible and you're fair to the injured plaintiff." 10200014.docx 105  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"You do not get… you do not get prejudgment interest if they're… if you are not found liable."

"You do not get prejudgment interest if you're not found liable."

"But you don't… whether prejudgment interest attaches is not going to be determined until there is a trial. It's… it's in its name. Judgment. There has to be a Judgment."

"I don't believe that."

"I don’t believe that is going to happen. And that is why I believe that the Illinois Health and Hospital Association is neutral. I assume they are a member of that association." 10200014.docx 106  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"But that was… that was the… a different Bill. This Bill has been amended, it has been changed, it has been worked on with providers."

"It has been negotiated."

"Representative Tarver, for what reason do you seek recognition? Representative Tarver."

"Jay, how are you?"

"Good."

"Good. Will you yield?"

"Yes."

"Awesome. So, I had a little chance to look up children's… Lurie's Children's Hospital, 'cause we're talking about small nonprofits. Annual budget is one point… annual revenue 1.28 billion. That’s up 12 percent from 2 years ago, right? So, over the course of the last year, toward their $500 million capital campaign, they raised $324 million. So, let's just be clear about what we're talking about when we say small nonprofits. And nobody's denying the fact that they do great work. But let me… let me get a little bit more into what actually happens in practice when we talk about days in court, if you'll indulge me. Here's what happens. There's a pandemic, 10200014.docx 107  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 plaintiff files a lawsuit. There's no real negotiation from defendants at times, and defendant says, let's go to trial. You know what's not happening right now? Trials. 'Cause you can't put 12 people in a box. So, what happens? Plaintiffs are penalized, right? 'Cause you can't put 12 people in a box. So, saying take me to trial is not a real thing. But to the Bill. I want to make sure I understand… and just to give you one other little tidbit of information. Catholic Charities, $140 million annual revenue. Small nonprofits. Okay. So, the Bill that passed… what was… what was it, 3360? Was initially nine percent. So, now there's a three percent reduction, which is, what, a third? Thirty-three point… thirty-three percent. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Okay. And it's told if the plaintiff voluntarily dismisses their case, right? 'Cause in Illinois we have a right to voluntarily dismiss a case and bring it back within a year, right? Okay. So, it's told for that time period. So, there's no incentive for a plaintiff to file suit, start to collect prejudgment interest, dismiss the suit, and come back and refile it. Can't do that, right? Okay. So, it encourages plaintiffs to move their cases along. And then, if there is an offer by the defendant, the plaintiff had 90 days, 3 months. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"They can't sit on it. They have to respond within 90 days. If they reject that offer and all of a sudden it goes to trial… 'cause everybody gets to go to trial if they would like to go to trial. Okay. My understanding is that is that 10200014.docx 108  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 then, if the actually judgment is equal to that amount or a lessor amount, plaintiff gets no, no meaning zero, prejudgment interest. Is that right?"

"That's correct."

"Okay. So, this is a situation where only if a plaintiff gets a judgment, which means… a judgment means the defendant gets to go to trial and prove their case. That's how you get a judgment. So, only if a plaintiff does that and there's a judgment, then we start to calculate prejudgment interest. Is that right?"

"That's how you would… if you go to judgment and then the calculation occurs, based on the judgment amount, yes."

"Right. Okay. So, there's no prejudgment interest without a judgment. That's the operative word, judgment, right? Okay. I'm making sure… I'm trying to make sure I'm not missing anything here. Okay. So, we're in a situation where defendants get to go to trial, that's what they want. They get to prove their case. Plaintiff's only get to collect prejudgment interest if there's a judgment in their favor and if they did not reject a reasonable offer from the defendant of that amount or less. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"And 46 states have some variation of this?"

"That's correct."

"Okay. So, that puts us in the last, I mean, four states left. What's that, eight percent? Okay. Seems to make sense to me. I would urge an 'aye' vote. Thank you very much for your time."

"Thank you, Representative." 10200014.docx 109  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Next speaker is Representative Batinick."

"He indicates he'll yield."

"I've not heard from those folks regarding this Amendment. But I… they were against the original Bill, and they were against Amendment #1. I… I can only assume."

"Members, a verification has been requested. Final speaker for Republican side is Representative Mazzochi."

"He indicates he'll yield."

"I have not discussed this with them."

"I'm…"

"Leader Hoffman to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I would just to… I would just like to thank the Illinois Health and Hospital Association as well as the Health Care Council of Illinois. I know that this is not an easy issue, but it is the right issue. We worked together. We got… we addressed their concerns. They now are neutral on the Bill. I would like to just, kind of, address some of the points that were made. The issue here is whether we can have a disincentive for defendants to unduly delay payment of a judgment, payment to injured people. Those are people that we're talking about here. You act as though those aren't real people that have been injured, that have been wronged because of someone else's negligence. It affects their lives. It 10200014.docx 113  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 affects their family's lives. It affects their entire future. And to have an insurance company… and I'm not saying it’s the hospital, and I'm not saying it’s the doctor. And I applaud and I thank them for everything they've done during this pandemic. But the insurance companies who are using the pandemic because there are no jury trials, because you can't get a jury trial, and they aren't settling the cases. If you want to be angry, call them. If you want to be upset, get mad at them. If you want to talk about the costs going up while defense lawyers bill, put it at their feet, as they try to starve out people who have been injured for someone else's negligence, someone else's wrong. Could be strict liability, not just negligence. It could be an intentional act. Yet, we're going to say that it's okay to starve them out and have their families not be able to provide because they are injured. Indiana. Indiana, the red state on our border, has between 6 and 10 percent prejudgment interest. The average is eight percent. Wisconsin, when it comes to the offer and acceptance language, is very similar to what is in this Bill. I've tried extremely hard, extremely hard to address the issues that have been brought before us, yet provide a disincentive to starve out injured workers and their families. That's what this Bill would do. Let me just real briefly go through the list of concessions that were made in this Bill, as opposed to the initial Bill that went to the Governor's desk. Number one, the trigger mechanism. We said that now we're going to begin accruing interest at the time of filing, not the notice to defendant. That's number one. Number two, we removed the state from prejudgment interest. 10200014.docx 114  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Number three, we allowed for voluntary dismissals that… if a plaintiff voluntarily dismisses case, the interest isn't going to accrue. Number four, we said that interest would not accrue on punitive damages. Number five, we moved the interest rate from nine percent to six percent. Number six, we said… and as you talk about attorney's fees, we said there won't be prejudgment interest on costs or statutory attorney's fees. Statutory costs or statutory attorney's fees. We indicated that if… that it will only accrue for five years and that there will be an offer and acceptance mechanism that will lower the prejudgment interest rate. I think this is reasonable. We've addressed many of the concerns of the providers and that is why I ask for an 'aye' vote."

"Members, Representative Batinick has requested a verification. Please vote your own switches. The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 72 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this issue, there are 67 voting 'yes', 40 voting 'no', 0 voting 'present'. And the Constitutional Majority… I'm sorry. Mr. Clerk, please read the names of those voting in the affirmative… oh, I'm sorry. Representative Batinick withdraws his verification. On this question, there are 67 voting in 'favor', 40 voting 'against', 0 voting 'present'. And having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. On page 5 of the Calendar, on Senate Bills Second Reading, appears Senate Bill 168, Representative Willis. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill." 10200014.docx 115  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Representative Willis."

"Can I have the Floor Amendment adopted, please?"

"Representative Willis moves that Floor Amendment #2 to Senate Bill 168 be adopted. All those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Amendment is adopted. Third Reading. Mr. Clerk… I'm sorry. Mr. Clerk."

"Representative Willis."

"Floor Amendment 3… I thought it was wrapped into Amendment 2, but okay. Let me hold on, please. Okay. Mr. Speaker, I actually only want Floor Amendment 3. So, I would like to accept Floor Amendment 3, which is a gut and replace. So, it'll work out fine."

"So, Representative Willis has moved for the adoption of Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 168. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. Floor Amendment 3 is adopted."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker."

"One moment. Any further Amendments? No further…"

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk." 10200014.docx 116  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Representative Willis on Senate Bill 168."

"Thank you, Members of the House and Mr. Speaker. You'll be happy to know that this Bill is a noncontroversial Bill, and I actually believe we have bipartisan agreement on it. It flew out of committee. And the reason we have the Amendments was just clarifying some last minute language on there. What this Bill does, it allows us to reopen Westlake Hospital. As you recall, a couple of years ago, the Speaker and myself had a hospital close in our district. We tried valiantly to keep it open, but we were unsuccessful. But we put in place other measures to hopefully slow down closures of hospitals. And you've seen actually, in the health care pillar that we passed earlier today, more of those measures taking place. We recognize that we need to keep our community hospitals open in our districts. And now, we are happy to tell you that, through a lot of diligent work, we actually are able to now say that Westlake hospital can reopen, but it needs a little bit of help from us. There are some guidelines that we put into this Bill to help expedite that addition… that mission of reopening the hospital, keeping it a community hospital. One of the things that we put into Amendment 3 was clarifying. Because, unfortunately, the previous owners of Westlake Hospital, even though Westlake would have qualified as a safety net hospital, failed to make sure that they did that with all of their paperwork. So, we are calling this a hospital that would be, previously, a generally acute care hospital that had at least 40 percent of its clients 10200014.docx 117  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 determined to be in need. And that is what we're looking at. So, that was the clear up that I had promised to come forth with when we talked about this is committee the other day. The other issues that the hospitals need to make sure to do as they reopen, it is only specifically for a hospital that is closed between January of 2019 and December 31 of 2020. So, it is a very short window. There was… we're asking for an exempt… a certificate of exemption in order to reopen the hospital. The reason we're asking for a certificate of exemption instead of a certificate of need, which is what normal hospitals need to have, is we want to expedite this. We have a buyer ready to go. They also have committed that they will reestablish the hospital with at least a $20 million buy-in. They've done that. That's what it cost to purchase a hospital and the land around it. They've committed to also keep the same number of beds that the hospital had prior. And that was all part of in the cleanup that we put in. There was a technicality on how we called the bed. So, that was just a technical clean up there. That has also been put through by the new buyers. They also have promised to keep in a charity ward for at least two years, and they will accept Medicaid and Medicaid managed care patients. They also have promised to be the owners for five years. That is truly important for us. That will show stability in the community and it will keep us going. That is what we want to see. This is a success story. There is no cost to the state. This is just a matter of us helping to expedite these new owners to put back a much- needed community care hospital in our area that not only will have the same number of hospital beds, but it will also have 10200014.docx 118  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 our behavioral health beds. And we know, right now, in the time of this pandemic, the extreme need for more behavioral health beds. With that, I respectfully ask a bipartisan support in this Bill. Thank you."

"Representative Wheeler."

"Thank you. Representative Reick will be excused."

"Indicates she'll yield."

"Yes, Sir."

"No, there is not."

"I'm sorry. I missed the part of your question."

"No, it would not be exempt." 10200014.docx 119  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Representative Robinson. Please leave your mask on while you're speaking, Representative."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, each of you are aware I have been fighting tooth and nail for six months to maintain quality health care to low income communities in my district. Trinity Healthcare, which is one of the largest and most profitable health care systems in the United States, is closing. The first founded hospital in the City of Chicago, which also just so happens to be a safety net hospital. I've heard from thousands of constituents, physicians, workers, clergy, and community groups, all who share similar concerns as to where low income patients will go if Mercy Hospital no longer exists. The most interesting element of this debacle is that Trinity also owns other hospitals in Illinois. However, those hospitals serve residents of more affluent communities. So, they are not at risk. This trend of shuttering hospitals serving poor communities across the State of Illinois must end. The Bill Sponsor, Representative Willis, Representative Wheeler, and Speaker Welch have recently witnessed the devastation this disinvestment caused in their communities. I'm going through it right now myself, along with Representative Mah, Representative Harper, and Representative Buckner, and Senator Hunter. We will not give 10200014.docx 120  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 up this fight. We, as a Body, hold many levers of power when it comes to the allocation of state resources and the regulatory authority for these hospitals and health systems. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure accountability and resources we expend across the state. We have to make sure that everyone, no matter of their color or financial ability, can get quality health care across the State of Illinois. In the interim, I commend the Bill Sponsor for bringing forth this legislation. I will stand with her and ask that each of you stand with me as we fight for more equitable health care system in Illinois. I ask that you also work with the Governor to put together a health care plan for all Illinoisans. It is by time we have a plan to make sure that everyone in the State of Illinois has quality access to quality health care. Thank you, Representative Willis, for bringing forth SB168. And I can recommend a 'yes' vote. Thank you."

"Representative Ramirez."

"Good afternoon, Speaker. It's really hard to follow Representative Robinson. We heard the passion. We heard the urgency in his voice. And while we know that a lot of people this year, this past year, have died because of COVID, we also know that health care has never been more important than now. I represent a district that has two safety net hospitals serving primarily low income Latinx communities. Over the past two years we have seen large health care systems more focused on profits than people, abandon communities of color that do not have what they consider to be desirable payer mixes. This trend must stop. We, as a Body, need to do 10200014.docx 121  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 whatever we can to ensure health care across to low income communities across the State of Illinois. Let me repeat. Across the State of Illinois. Every community, urban, rural, suburban, should have access to health care. I commend the Sponsor for bringing forward Senate Bill 168, which seeks to help to reopen safety net hospitals that had recently been abandoned in low income communities. The Bill is limited in scope but ensures that incoming owners and operators must make significant financial investments and still pass all licensure requirements, via the Department of Public Health. I am proud, very proud, of my two safety net hospitals and the work that they do to provide quality health care to under- resourced communities. This is way I am glad, on this late time of 7:18 p.m., to stand with the Sponsor of this Bill, because we know how critical and vital it is to return those resources to that community as soon as possible in my colleagues' district. I stand with the Sponsor, and I commend her for bringing forth the Bill. And I urge, I urge an 'aye' vote."

"Representative Willis to close."

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask and point out two other issues that I forgot to do in the opening thing. Through the negotiation, the Hospital Association is neutral on this. We had them on our call yesterday when we were talking about this. And the Health Facilities Board is okay with this, and that was part of the cleanup language. We made sure that we addressed a couple of their technical concerns. As you heard from my colleagues, this is bipartisanly supported. Thank you 10200014.docx 122  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 very much. I think we're all happy that it's getting close to the end of the day, and I urge an 'aye' vote. Thank you."

"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 168 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 109 voting 'yes', 0 voting 'no', 0 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. On Supplemental Calendar #1 there appears House Resolution 132, offered by Representative Morgan. Representative Morgan."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for everyone's indulgence. It has been a long day. So, I appreciate your attention. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of House Resolution 132, something I don't do lightly. It's condemning the actions of Illinois State Representative Chris Miller. This Resolution raises a very simple question for this Body. What is conduct unbecoming of a Legislator? What is conduct unbecoming of a Legislator? The 118 of us all come to this General Assembly from each and every corner of the State of Illinois. And our constituents expect us not just to fight for our own home towns, but to work with other Legislators to make this a better state for everyone. Our districts demand fierce advocacy but also decency in getting the job done. We can, and often do, make mistakes. We all made mistakes even today. But at the end of the day a Legislator must, above all, be true to his or her oath of office, which is the point of this Resolution. Some of my colleagues will dismiss this Resolution. Some think the Resolution goes too far. Frankly, 10200014.docx 123  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 some think it doesn't go far enough, that Representative Miller is entitled to his opinion, or he didn't mean to cause any harm to anyone, or that this was simply a mistake. However, I am here today standing on behalf of this Resolution to argue that, no, this was not a mistake. This was a pattern of behavior from our colleague, Representative Chris Miller. Here are the facts. Representative Miller and his spouse, his wife, Congresswoman Mary Miller, were both at the Save America rally on January 6, 2021, in our Capitol. We know what happened after that in the press, but, specifically, Representative Miller posted on his campaign account a Facebook Live post at 12:35 p.m. Just minutes, just minutes after former President Trump had given his remarks and concluded. During that Facebook Live post, he said, 'We are engaged in a great cultural war to see which worldview will survive, whether we will remain a free people under free market capitalism or whether they will put us under the tyranny of socialism and communism, under the dangerous Democrat terrorists that are trying to destroy our country.' 12:35 p.m. Just minutes earlier at 12:30, hundreds of those who had been at the rally had already reached the Capitol and their security barrier. By 12:53, the Proud Boys and others from the rally breached the security gates. By 1:00, the Capitol had been stormed and overtaken. Less than 20 minutes, less than 20 minutes after Representative Miller posted and ended his Facebook Live. The insurrection was in full swing just a full… few blocks away. The attempted coup, as we know, took several lives, including the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. We do not know what Representative 10200014.docx 124  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Miller did before or after that video. I would argue it's not as relevant, except for the fact that he was there. We know his truck was parked at the Capitol, not surprising. But then, when we see photos later of his truck in the parking lot of the Capitol, with protestors of the insurrection still in the parking lot, we see a sticker on the back of his truck with the Roman numeral III. And the Roman numeral III represents the Three Percenters. For those of you who don't know, the Three Percenters is a paramilitary hate group, identified by the Anti-Defamation League as having the goal of overthrowing the United States Government through violent, revolutionary tactics. It's what they stand for. Representative Miller admits it was his truck. He admits the sticker was on his car, has given different explanations as to why it was on his car, but we know it was there. We know it was on his truck. I don't think any of us will ever forget January 6 and the images and the video of the Capitol being overrun, the near misses of unspeakable harm to our former Vice President Pence, Speaker Pelosi, other Representatives and Senators. But on that day, that day Representative Miller stood with the insurrectionists. That’s un… indisputable. But if Mr… if Representative Miller regretted his words, remorseful for his actions, he hasn't shown it. Which again, I think, is the most critical element of all of this. How do we know? One month later, on January… February 8, at a town hall meeting, he again referred to his colleagues of the other political party as the enemy that’s attacking our freedoms. The enemy. The time has come, my colleagues, for Democrats and Republicans to make a choice about what it means to be a 10200014.docx 125  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Member of the General Assembly. We owe the 13 million people of the State of Illinois a bright line that shows where we stand when we have to choose between upholding elections and the ideals of the republic, regardless of our political persuasion, or choosing insurrection. Insurrection when our favorite candidate loses, like some chose on January 6. Can't we agree, here today, in a bipartisan way, that Representative Miller's behavior has so greatly crossed the line that we can say enough, no more, this has to stop. This has to stop before someone gets hurt. We can disagree all day long on politics and on policy, and we will, and we shall. This is not about that. This about right and wrong. It's about the oath of office that we all took to serve in the General Assembly. Deep down I know each and every one of you know that. You know that the behavior of Representative Miller crossed the line. He betrayed the oath that we all took to the General Assembly, to the State of Illinois, and that behavior was unbecoming of a Legislator. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"This Resolution shall be in the Order of Standard Debate. That is three Members on either side, including the Sponsor. The first speaker from the Republican side is Leader Durkin."

"Representative Ammons."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of my colleague, Representative Morgan, and this Resolution here today. Someone wrote me after this incident took place and suggested that this is an issue of free speech. We're here today to discuss free speech, something every one of us is a 10200014.docx 128  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 proponent of. It is quite literally our job, here at the Capitol, to protect free speech. But today's topic, which is Representative Chris Miller's participation in an insurrection on January 6 that led to the death of multiple citizens, as well as the injury of countless others. Now, it's been reported that Representative Miller said he attended because he supported Trump, which is perfectly fine. He just wanted to be patriotic. He wasn't aware that the very large decal on his truck is a logo of a far right militia group, the Three Percenters. Representative Miller was just 'exercising his freedom of speech'. But let's take a moment and delve into what Representative Miller said on January 6 and some of the ideology that this Three Percenter group actually promotes. Representative Chris Miller said, and it was repeated here already, on his Facebook Live, not… not a video, live on January 6, 'Trump supporters engaged in a great cultural war to see which worldview will survive, whether we will remain a free people under free market capitalism or whether they will put us under the tyranny of socialism and communism and dangerous Democrat terrorists.' In order for us to fully understand the situation before us, we must know what the Three Percenters are. A quick Google search will bring you to the Anti-Defamation League's Web site where it says the following, 'The Three Percenters are the anti- government extremists who are part of the militia movement. They compare their hostility to the freedom… federal government with the opposition of American patriots to the British during the American Revolution. The term itself is a reference to a false belief that the number of Americans who 10200014.docx 129  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 fought against the British during the Revolutionary War amounted to only three percent of the population at the time. Historians said, of course, that is incorrect. Three Percenters believe that, just as a small revolutionary vanguard overthrew the tyrannical British rule in America, a dedicated group of modern patriots could rid the United States of today's alleged tyranny.' When we consider these beliefs, and hold them up next to what Representative Miller's Facebook Live comments were, we find very similar messages, very dangerous messages, messages saturated with misinformation and anti-American rhetoric, which we believe led to the murder of several in Georgia just the other day. It was no accident that Representative Miller was on the Capitol on January 6. His own wife praised Hitler in a speech at a rally that very morning. It's clear to me that Representative Miller knew exactly why he was there, and he got caught. So, now he's backpedaling. To reiterate, I'm no opponent of free speech. Fighting for your constitutional rights is something I, and everyone here, really takes seriously and have dedicated our lives to. What I am opposed to is when that speech incites violence that led to the lynching of thousands of African Americans from 1882 to 1968. Black men and women were murdered just by hearsay, similar views that were espoused on January 6. If someone cried wolf, they'd be lynched that very night. These are not words of rhetoric. This is historical fact. Words absolutely matter. And, as public servants, we must take extra responsibility for the words we share with our constituents. We must realize that our words have ripple effects. It was irresponsible and unconscionable for 10200014.docx 130  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 Representative Miller to spread hateful misinformation and un-American rhetoric, and we must hold him accountable to the office he holds. I will be voting 'yes' on this Resolution today because it is not just about the words, but those words translate into hurt and harm and, in some cases, even death of our citizens. And we must stand against this rhetoric because it is spreading like a vial disease in this land, to an era we had thought was once pass gone, but obviously have not. I stand in support of Representative Morgan's Resolution, and I encourage our colleagues to do the same."

"Representative Miller."

"Could you wear your mask while you're speaking, Representative?"

"Representative Didech."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Resolution. On January 6 we witnessed something in America that we had not seen in 160 years. What we witnessed in Washington was not a peaceful transfer of power. It was a violent transfer of power. President Trump summoned his violent followers. He urged them to storm the Capitol, and he whipped up a murderous mob directed at the Vice President to the United States, Members of Congress, and the staff and police officers present on that tragic day. There are some who will say that Representative Miller is not responsible for these evil acts because he merely attended the pro- insurrection rally, and he never could have known that they would actually follow through with it. Just like he thought that the racist, anti-American symbol that he put on the back of his own vehicle was just a cool decal. How many times do we have to hear Representative Miller call Democrats terrorists or the enemy before we can start taking his words 10200014.docx 132  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021 seriously? How many times does Representative Miller have to accidentally find himself supporting the overthrow of the United States Government before we can stop pretending we don't see what's going on here? We've all heard the unconvincing defenses of Representative Miller's conduct. The bad faith, hair splitting, and half apologies are untenable on the fundamental question of American democracy. There is nothing admirable about cleverly towing the line between politics and incitement. Everyone must stop tacitly accepting such dangerous behavior. There are always some people who, in the aftermath of heinous and tragic event, want to quickly forget, want to just move forward. It's a natural instinct. Good people don't want to think about awful things. But the 24 hour news cycle is not the only way to understand America. The memory of history is much longer. Today's Resolution is a part of righting that history. Supporting this Resolution means that, decades and centuries from now, you stood with Democracy and against violence, that actions have consequences, that killing police officers is not an acceptable response to losing an election. Until we take a bipartisan stance against violence and the politicians who incite it, I fear it will not end. So, I urge an 'aye' vote today. Thank you."

"Representative Batinick."

"I believe that they may be requesting that shortly."

"We want to be sure that we're doing that correctly."

"The Resolution would pass today. Any other action would be subsequent to this."

"It would be a voice vote."

"Roll call vote has been requested."

"Representative Bourne, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you, Representative. Representative Burke, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative West and I also serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission, and we also will be voting 'present'."

"Thank you, Representative. We've have three speakers on each side. All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. With 57 voting 'yes', 36 voting 'no', 5 voting 'present', this Resolution is adopted. Representative Butler, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Parliamentarian inquiry, please go ahead." 10200014.docx 135  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"I cannot recite it from memory."

"We'll get the… we'll get some rules. We'll be back to you."

"I don’t know the answer to that, Representative."

"Representative, I will just point out that I've also, just since I've been up here, reminded Members on our side of the aisle of that also. But I think it’s a good reminder for everyone in the chamber. When you're speaking, you must wear a mask. So, thank you. The Clerk is in receipt of Motions in Writing to waive the posting requirements for several Bills. If there is leave, we will take these Motions together in one Motion. Is there leave? Leave is not granted. Ammons."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move the posting requirements be waived so that the following Bills can be heard. In Judiciary - Criminal Committee, House Bill 0588. Mr. Speaker, they didn't give us permission to waive… to take them in one Motion."

"We're going to have a roll call vote on this, Representative."

"Okay. So, we will take House Bill 0588, House Bill 3295, House Bill 3762, House Bill 3423, House Bill 3934, House Bill 3915, House Bill 3161, House Bill 3160… 3561, House Bill 3252, House Bill 3564, House Bill 2831, and House Bill 3575."

"Leader Ammons has moved the posting requirements be waived so the following Bills can be heard… so that those Bills can be heard in Judiciary - Criminal. This is a record vote. All those in favor vote 'aye'; those opposed vote 'nay'. Voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? With a vote of 67 voting 'yes', 40 voting 'no', and 0 voting 'present', the Motion is adopted. Mr. Clerk, committee announcements." 10200014.docx 137  STATE OF ILLINOIS 102nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 14th Legislative Day 3/18/2021

"Representative Morrison, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"Please state your point."

"Representative Mazzochi, for what reason do you seek recognition?"

"State you point."

"Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."

"Leader Manley moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All those in favor say 'aye'; the opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. Mr. Clerk, please read the Adjournment Resolution."

"Leader Manley moves for the adoption of the Adjournment Resolution. All those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. And now, leaving… allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Manley moves that the House stand adjourned. All those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned." 10200014.docx 142