"The House shall be in order. The House will be in order. Members will be in their chairs. We shall be led in the prayer today by Father Carl Gales. Father Gales is with Our Lady of Africa Church in Chicago, Illinois. Father Gales is the guest of Representative Buckner. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones, and rise for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance."
"For the beauty of the Earth. For the glory of the skies. For the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Lord of all to you we raise. This our hymn of grateful praise. God of creation, in a universe where things seem chaotic and random, you order all things and make them new. In humility we ask that you order our steps to bring clarity to difficult deliberations and with your divine assistance shed light on the darkness of injustice, oppression, and division. O God, give us wisdom to discern the paths of justice and peace and with your grace walk therein. O God, ever ancient, ever new, give success to the work of our hands. Give success to the work of our hands. Amen."
"We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Andrade."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Roll Call for Attendance. Leader… Leader Evans is recognized to report any excused absences on the Democratic side of the aisle." 10300099.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Speaker, let the record show that Representatives Avelar, Burke, Delgado, Flowers, Guerrero-Cuellar, Harper, Huynh, Jones, Ladisch Douglass, Meyers-Martin, Rita, Scherer, Slaughter, West, Omar Williams, and Yednock are excused today."
"The record will reflect. Leader Keicher is recognized to report any excused absences on the Republican side of the aisle."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please let the record reflect that Representative Tipsword, Niemerg, David Friess, Randy Frese, Sosnowski, and Wilhour are excused for today."
"The record shall reflect. Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. There being 96 Members answering the roll call, a quorum is present. Mr. Clerk, Rules Report."
Clerk Hollman: "Committee Report. Representative Gabel, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules reports the following committee action taken on May 6, 2024: recommends be adopted, referred to the floor is Floor Amendment(s) 1 to Senate Bill 3137; and approved for consideration, referred to Second Reading is House Bill 443 and House Bill 814."
"Representative Ness, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of you've already met Cecilia, my Page for today. But Cecilia is a 10-year-old 5th grader at Ron O'Neal Elementary School in School District 46. She's in the gifted and dual language program from which she 10300099.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024 will earn a seal of biliteracy. She lives in Elgin with her dad, who's an engineer, and her mom, who is a nonprofit executive director at Centro de Información, and her sister, who is a first-year student at Elgin Community College. Cecilia likes math, writing short stories, reading books, swimming, playing clarinet, piano, and basketball. She gets excited when talking about keeping the earth sustainable for when she grows up. And she has some great ideas for legislation, which she has shared with me. Her mom, Dianha, and her grandma are up in the gallery. If we could say hi and give her a warm Springfield welcome."
Speaker Buckner: "Cecilia, welcome to your Capitol. Representative Miller, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"We're a few weeks away from adjournment, and one of the most important things we're going to do is to prepare and to vote on a budget. This year, Governor Pritzker has proposed that we spend nearly 54… $53 billion, the largest revenue budget in our state's glorious and beautiful history. In perspective, just five years ago, the general revenue budget was approximately $38 billion. We are on track to spend 15 billion more than just 5 years ago, and at the same time, we're bleeding jobs, we're bleeding population, and we even lost a Congressional seat. Five years ago, we funded a very small tax credit educational choice program which simply allowed the taxpayers to direct a small portion of their taxes to a program to help low-income and mostly minority children 10300099.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024 leave failing schools. Now, with the proposed budget that's nearly 40 percent greater, this General Assembly has canceled the program that provided nearly 10 thousand children an opportunity to attend a school that gives them a chance at a quality education. To my colleagues here in the Illinois House, supporting children, offering a chance at a better education and a better life to kids in poverty should be a bipartisan issue. This budget reflects your true value. For many of you, your parents and you as parents value a good education. And you and your children have been beneficiaries of a good private education. To deny the most vulnerable children in the state is not just the height of hypocrisy, but a terrible decision if you care about the children's future. And make no mistake, children are the future of this great State of Illinois. This is an easy decision to bring back the Invest in Kids Scholarship Program, and I encourage my colleagues to do so. Last month, the Louisiana State Legislature passed a school choice Bill to give many of their children a second chance at receiving a quality education, and several Democrats even voted for this Bill. Here's a direct quote from a Louisiana State Representative Hughes. 'What I will do not do in this moment, as I watch children in poverty trapped in failing schools who can hardly read, I'd be damned if I continue to defend the status quo.' Hughes, a Democrat, went on to say, 'I know the political ramifications for me voting for this bill, but I don't need this job bad enough to watch our children continue to live in poverty and be trapped in failing schools and not try to do something.' In my office, there hangs a sign that says you will never 10300099.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024 regret doing the right thing. I'm calling on this Body of government to do the right thing and support the Invest in Kids Scholarship Program. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker."
"Representative Yang Rohr, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. Members of the… of the House, I just wanted to introduce today my Page for the day, Talia Owens. Talia is six and a half years old, and she's in first grade. She's also the daughter of one of our favorite researchers in the House, Logan Owens. And so, probably appropriately, Talia, when she grows up, wants to pass laws and she wants to do research on Bills, just like her mom, when she grows up. Math is her favorite subject, and gymnastics is her favorite sport. Thank you."
"Talia, welcome to your Capitol. Representative Johnson, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Corrections headquarters will be holding a ceremony honoring their fallen officers at 10 a.m. I want to extend an invitation to all of our Members to attend the event with myself and… and Leader McCombie and… and hopefully others. This year, there will be two new names added to the wall. Andrew Faught, sergeant at Pontiac, passed away on April 8 from a automobile accident while responding to a situation as a member of the facility's tactical response team. The 27- 10300099.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024 year-old was a 6-year veteran of the Department of Corrections and was a devoted son, brother, and uncle. As a local president, I've had the honor of attending many of these ceremonies honoring our fallen heroes. There was always one name on the memorial that… that held a personal interest for me. In 1989, I was sent to represent my facility, along with a few others, to attend the visitation services for Lawrence 'Frank' Kush, Jr. On July 1 of that year, while heading back from shift change at Stateville Correctional Center, he was viciously attacked and beaten with a lead pipe by three inmates at the rear of the facility next to the vocational building. I will never, ever forget the pain in his wife's eyes as I expressed my condolences. Never. To this day, I still can't imagine her getting that phone call telling her that her 24-year-old husband and father to their 2 baby girls was never coming home. This year, the memorial ceremony will once again strike a particularly personal chord with me. As you know, last May, my friend and former local unit executive board member, Chris James, tragically died in a workplace accident. I would like to thank all of you in the chamber and the DOC for working with me to pass legislation that will hopefully ensure that this never happens again. It doesn't take away the feeling of loss, but I suppose it's something. Chris was an unforgettable character. He would drive me crazy sometimes by making me justify every single decision I made at the local level, but I soon realized he was not questioning my leadership, but making me a better leader. He was always the one playing devil's advocate, preparing you for the next discussion. He was so proud of his sons and very involved in 10300099.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024 their lives. Sixteen-hour shifts did not stop him from demanding the very best from them and preparing them to today serve our country as members of our military. His wife, Sam, talked about how Chris would always embrace others' hobbies. She loved camping. He hated it. So, rather than talk her out of camping, he went and bought her a larger camper and learned to love that as well. That was Chris, always pretending to be annoyed, but enjoying participating in others' joys. I'm sure that the Town of Savanna will never be the same. Corrections is not a career that kids dream of going into normally. It's sometimes where you just end up. We hear of kids wanting to grow up and be police officers or firefighters. COs normally don't make that list. The jobs that they do are no less noble, the environment just as challenging. You build relationships in this environment. And the reality is that, even when you get to the point of retirement, you never truly leave. The survivor's guilt is real. I'm sure many of you in the public sector can identify. I have a conversion that I always have with former coworkers I left behind after they retire, and it's always the same. Now that you're out, enjoy life, embrace the positive, and live a long and healthy life in retirement. We take things for granted. I just assumed I'd be up in Savanna one day with Chris and Mike Sweeney at Manny's having a beer and pizza and swapping stories. Every once in a while, you get reminded that those tomorrows are promised to no one, and it reminds you every day to embrace the ones you love every single day. As usual, I learned more from Chris than he ever learned from me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker." 10300099.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Thank you, Representative. The Body will take a moment of silence. Thank you. Proceed to the Order of House (sic-Senate) Bills Second Reading. Senate Bill 1, Representative Canty. Representative Canty. Out of the record. Senate Bill 56, Representative Morgan. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 56, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 275, Leader Spain. Leader Spain. Out of the record. Senate Bill 275, Leader Spain. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 275, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 381, Representative Walsh. Out of the record. Senate Bill 5… Senate Bill 773, Representative Croke. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 773, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
Speaker Buckner: "Third Reading. Senate Bill 856, Leader Hernandez. Representative Norma Hernandez. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 856, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. Amendment #1 was adopted in committee. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed." 10300099.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 857, Representative Katz Muhl. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 857, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 1087, Representative Frese. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1960, Leader Evans. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 1960, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. Amendment #2 was adopted in committee. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2573, Representative Morris. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2573, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2601, Representative Rashid. Representative Rashid. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2601, a Bill for an Act concerning civil law. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2617, Representative Wilhour. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2626. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2626, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed." 10300099.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2654, Representative Gill. Representative Gill. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2654, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2660, Representative Morgan. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2660, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2667, Representative Hauter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2672, Representative Costa Howard. Representative Costa Howard. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2672, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2675, Representative Croke. Clerk, read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2675, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2682, Representative Yang Rohr. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2683, Representative Vella. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2683, a Bill for an Act concerning civil law. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed." 10300099.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2697, Leader Lilly. Leader Lilly. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2697, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2715, Representative Olickal. Representative Olickal. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2715, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2731, Representative Morgan. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2731, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2735, Representative Morgan. Read the Bill. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2735, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2743, Representative Ann Williams. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2747, Representative Barbara Hernandez. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2747, a Bill for an Act concerning conservation. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2751, Representative Kifowit. Read the Bill." 10300099.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Senate Bill 2751, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2764, Representative Gill. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2764, a Bill for an Act concerning business. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2765, Representative Didech. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2765, a Bill for an Act concerning business. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2767, Representative Benton. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2767, a Bill for an Act concerning criminal law. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2778, Representative Moylan. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2778, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 20… Senate Bill 2788, Representative Faver Dias. Dias, sorry. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2788, a Bill for an Act concerning children. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed." 10300099.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2799, Representative Mussman. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 2799, a Bill for an Act concerning aging. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Senate Bill 2822, Leader Mah. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1, Representative Canty. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 1, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. The Chair recognizes Leader Keicher for the purpose of an announcement."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Republicans will caucus in Room 118 upon adjournment."
"The Republicans will caucus in Room 118 upon adjournment. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 748, offered by Representative Mah. House Resolution 749 and 750, offered by Representative Cabello. And House Resolution 751, offered by Representative Stephens."
"Leader Gabel moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. And now, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Gabel moves that the House stand adjourned until Tuesday, May 7, at the hour of 11 a.m. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 10300099.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 5/6/2024 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned."
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 5834, offered by Representative Gordon-Booth, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. First Reading of this House Bill. Introduction of Resolutions. Senate Joint Resolution 50, offered by… offered by Representative Swanson, is referred to the Rules Committee. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 10300099.docx 14