"Gracious and guiding spirit, we gather as stewards of our shared responsibility to serve all of the people from our districts in our state. Grant us wisdom to see beyond party lines, courage to act with integrity, and compassion to hear all voices, especially those of the unheard. Remind us all that our decisions today shape the world our children will inherit. May we build not just for the moment, but for generations yet to come. A world marked by justice, equity, compassion, and peace. In humility and hope, we ask for strength to do the work that serves the common good for all of us. Amen."
"We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Reick." Reick – et al: "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 Gabel is recognized to report any excused absences on the Democratic side of the aisle."
"Speaker, let the record show that Representatives Andrade and Burke are excused today." 10300124.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Leader Keicher is recognized to report any excused absences on the Republican side of the aisle."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Please let the record reflect that Representatives Jacobs and McLaughlin are excused for today."
"Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. There being 113 Members answering the roll call, a quorum is present. The Chair recognizes Representative Niemerg. For what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. A point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"I'd like to congratulate… get over here, Dan… my good friend Dan Caulkins. Second… he has two days, two days left, but he's going to be retiring after tomorrow. Dan, it's been an honor and a privilege to serve… as a matter of fact, he's working on something back here, so everybody better watch out tomorrow. But I've been Dan's seatmate for two years, served with Dan for four, and I don't know too many other people that really, truly believe in what we're trying to do here and has the heart to do it. He and Jo, they've helped so many people, including myself. And, Dan, enjoy your retirement and God bless. Enjoy serving with you for the next two days."
"Chair recognizes Representative Sosnowski. For what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed." 10300124.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Madam Speaker and Members of this Assembly, I rise today to pay respect to the memory of a former Member of this body who passed away just recently. My predecessor, Representative Ron Wait, was born in Belvidere, Illinois in 1944. A community he was proud to call home the entirety of his life. He was a farmer, a lawyer, a public servant, and a proud father and grandfather. Ron Wait served in this General Assembly for 26 years, from 1983 to '93, and again from '95 to 2011. After his retirement in 2011, Representative Wait remained a fixture in the community at many events in Boone County each and every year, supporting local causes and staying connected to the people of the community. He had felt so honored to serve them for so long and he had… as many of you may know, had a very folksy charm and a vigor that defined his character and storied career. When I was first elected to this General Assembly, Ron was especially gracious and generous with his time and wisdom, encouraging and sharing his insights. When he passed away on December 30 at the age of 80, the people of Boone County and the State of Illinois lost a cherished elder statesman. Mr. Speaker, I ask the body to join me in observing a moment of silence in memory of Representative Ron Wait."
"The Members will take a moment of silence. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports."
Clerk Hollman: "Committee Reports. Representative Gabel, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules reports the following committee action taken on January 6, 2025: approved for consideration, referred to Second Reading is Senate Bill 327 and Senate Bill 2417." 10300124.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"The Chair recognizes Representative DeLuca. For what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed."
"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in wishing my seatmate, Martin Moylan, a happy birthday."
"Happy birthday, Representative Moylan. Chair recognizes Representative Davis. For what reason do you seek recognition?" Davis, W.: "Point of personal privilege, Madam Chair."
"Please proceed." Davis, W.: "Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know, we have a unique opportunity to bring a young person, sometimes even a little older, onto the floor to act as our page for today. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased and honored to have with me today young Esaias Prince Akinbola Kea, who is my page for the day. Young Esaias, who is also known as Princey Bear, was born on July 13, 2018. He is a first grader at the Latin School of Chicago. When Esaias grows up, he wants to be a captain of a golden yacht. He enjoys screen time, which is limited to only one hour on weekends, playing with his toys, reading, and traveling. His favorite places to visit on vacation are Springfield, Bloomington to see his nana, as well as Miami, Jamaica, Cabo, and Cancun, Mexico. Can you… can you put me in your suitcase the next time, maybe? His favorite animals are cheetahs, lions, jaguars, leopards, cats, ancient cats, and royal lions. He loves planes, trains, jets, boats, ships, trucks, aircraft carriers, submarines, and fighter jets. He loves his mama, who is joining us in the 10300124.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 gallery, sitting up there, as well as his daddy. And today is his last day of winter break before he returns to school, so we invited him to join us today as our page. And so, ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome Esaias Prince Akinbola Kea to the floor today?"
"My heart just melted out of my chest. Mr. Clerk, committee announcements."
"The following committees will be meeting at 2 p.m. this afternoon: Judiciary – Criminal will meet in Room 122, Judiciary – Civil will meet in Room 118, and Labor & Commerce will meet in Room 114. Once again, those committees meet at 2 p.m."
"Chair recognizes Leader Mah for an announcement."
"Madam Speaker, the Democrats would request a caucus meeting immediately in Room 114."
"Democrats will caucus in Room 114. Members will go to caucus, proceed to committees, and after committees, we will return to the House floor. The House stands at recess to the call of the Chair. Under the Order of Resolutions… under the Order of Resolutions, we have House Resolution 970, offered by Leader Hoffman."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, if I could have the body's attention. This is a retirement resolution honoring Secretary Omer Osman, who is recently retired from the Illinois Department of Transportation. I know many of us have all worked with Omer over the years. He is a… a true gentleman, he is a unbelievable leader, and he is a great Secretary of Transportation. We're joined today by his wife, and I believe 10300124.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 daughters, who will be seeing much more of Omer. And he is in the gallery with us today. Please give Omer a round of applause. I first met Secretary Osman when he was the… the head of the district that I represent. He was the head district engineer. Later, he moved up to the head of the division of highways, the assistant secretary, and then the Secretary of Transportation. Omer is just the third, only the third, Secretary of Transportation who spent his entire career… his or her entire career at the Illinois Department of Transportation. We all know what Omer has done for us in our districts. We all know how he led the effort in 2019 to help us pass the historic Rebuild Illinois, Governor Pritzker's landmark… landmark jobs program, and we all know that he led the effort of that $33.2 billion amount of money that actually went into the Illinois Department of Transportation, and he is building, putting people to work, creating economic opportunities throughout the entire State of Illinois. So, with that, Omer, I wish you all good luck. I wish you the best. If you ever need anything here, we're always here. And I'd like to congratulate you on a job well done and thank you for all the work you've done, and congratulations in your retirement."
"Representative Mayfield, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"I also would just like to thank Secretary Omer Osman for all that you have done on behalf of the Public Safety- Appropriations Committee. Thank you for all of your years of service. Thank you for all of the questions that you've answered. You… you've always been a just really good sport. 10300124.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 Everybody on the committee, we're truly going to miss your leadership. You've just been wonderful to work with, and I… just truly grateful to have that opportunity. Thank you."
"Thank you, Secretary Osman. All those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes'… oh, excuse me. Representative Hoffman moves for the adoption of House Resolution 970. All those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. On page 2 of the calendar, bills… Senate Bills on Second Reading, Senate Bill 727, Representative du Buclet. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 727, a Bill for an Act concerning health. The bill was read for a second time previously. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 727, a Bill for an Act concerning health. Third Reading of this Senate Bill."
"Representative du Buclet." du Buclet: "Thank you, Madam Speaker. Senate Bill 727 is a bill, let me get my notes together, which will require the Illinois EPA to conduct a study of statewide community water supplies to assess the level of hazardous chemicals and establish a statewide maximum containment level for those chemicals. So, it will be testing, for instance, for PFAS, 1, 4-Dioxane. And as we all know, PFAS is found in just about every source of food, water. It's in our clothing. It's in our makeup. It's in the soil. It's in our rivers. So, we're trying to test it 10300124.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 just to see how far and how wide this… these chemicals have spread."
"Chair recognizes Leader Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates that she will."
"Thank you. Representative, this is going to give the Illinois EPA some rulemaking authority to enforce these restrictions. Is that accurate?" du Buclet: "I don't believe there's any enforcement in the bill. I believe it's just to test. Enforcements may come in a forthcoming bill."
"And we are going to match our standards to the U.S. standards. Is that accurate?" du Buclet: "I believe so, yes."
"And are we anticipating any change to those standards?" du Buclet: "I don't… do not anticipate any standards, as of now."
"And it appears that there has been prior samples that have been taken that are going to be retested. Is that… am I understanding correct?" du Buclet: "So, I think there were… yeah. I think the samples were taken, I don’t remember the years, but maybe 10 years ago. And they just want to have a base and a sample to compare to what the original sample was to the new sample so they have a baseline for testing… or, for evaluating."
"And this bill passed the Senate unanimously. Is that accurate?" du Buclet: "It passed the Senate unanimously."
"Thank you." 10300124.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 du Buclet: "Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Davis." Davis, W.: "Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she will." Davis, W.: "Representative, in your explanation… or, in your… your prelude, if you will, you talked about PFAS being in a wide variety of items. Is that… did I understand that correctly?" du Buclet: "That's correct." Davis, W.: "I think you mentioned makeup, possibly hair care products, or, I mean…" du Buclet: "Clothing." Davis, W.: "Clothing, all of that. So, because we're concerned about it, does that mean women are going to stop wearing makeup on the chamber? We're not going to get our hair done anymore? We're going to stop wearing clothes? Is…" du Buclet: "No, I think… I think the point is to bring awareness of PFAS 'cause a lot of people don’t understand about forever chemicals and to understand just how widespread it is…" Davis, W.: "So, I should just…" du Buclet: "…and at some point, remove it from all of these different substances, including clothing and makeup." Davis, W.: "So, I should just start taking off my clothes right now?" du Buclet: "Take off your clothes, Representative." Davis, W.: "I mean… okay, sounds like an invitation. I mean…" du Buclet: "No." Davis, W.: "Okay." du Buclet: "Not at all." 10300124.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 Davis, W.: "I was just curious, the way you described it." du Buclet: "Well, you just offered." Davis, W.: "So, I mean, that means…" du Buclet: "I'm responding to your offer." Davis, W.: "We should just have a bonfire right in the middle of the chamber here with makeup and all kinds of stuff, right?" du Buclet: "And just burn it." Davis, W.: "Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate your answers." du Buclet: "You're welcome, Representative."
"Chair recognizes Leader Keicher."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates that she will."
"Okay. So, I… I think some of the conversation I had trouble hearing, so if this is a repeat, please just direct me along. So, some of the PFAS chemicals that are out there are found in battery manufacturing in lithium-ion batteries. I know that they use some of them to help extinguish lithium- ion battery fires, and that's one of the few substances that'll actually extinguish the fire when it's out there. As I'm reading through the Bill, what I see is something that the Illinois EPA is already enabled to do to put standards in place. Is that accurate?" du Buclet: "Yes."
"So, if they already have the power to do this, help me understand why we require another piece of legislation." du Buclet: "I think the legislation is just to test the water or to… to take water samples just to… to compare a sample from earlier to see how much it has infiltrated our water system." 10300124.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"But don’t they already conduct those tests? I believe I've seen information arrive from the EPA saying that they're testing for PFAS all over the State of Illinois…" du Buclet: "I'm not aware."
"…and I'm wondering what this legislation adds that isn't being done." du Buclet: "I'm not aware."
"You're… you're not aware of which piece? That it is being done?" du Buclet: "I'm not aware of all the testing that's being done."
"Okay. All right. Thank you." du Buclet: "Thank you."
"Representative du Buclet to close." du Buclet: "So, as I said in my opening, PFAS is in just about every substance you can think of. More specifically, it is running rampant in our water systems. It is hazardous to our health, and we are just trying to understand this extent of the PFAS in our environment so we can have a baseline for what to do next. Thank you."
"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 727 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; 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 110 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' This bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. On page 3, Senate Bills on Second Reading, Senate Bill 2655, Representative Slaughter. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill." 10300124.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Senate Bill 2655, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. The bill was read a second time previously. No Committee Amendments. Floor Amendment #1 is offered by Representative Slaughter."
"Mr. Clerk, please withdraw the bill from the record. Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports."
Clerk Bolin: "Committee Reports. Representative Slaughter, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary - Criminal reports the following committee action taken on January 6, 2025: recommends be adopted, Floor Amendment(s) 1 to Senate Bill 2655. Representative Gong-Gershowitz, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary - Civil reports the following committee action taken on January 6, 2025: recommends be adopted, Motion to Concur with Senate Amendment(s) 1 and 2 for House Bill 2474 and Motion to Concur with Senate Amendment(s) 1 to House Bill 5164. Representative Evans, Chairperson from the Committee on Labor & Commerce reports the following committee action taken on January 6, 2025: recommends be adopted, Motion to Concur with Senate Amendment(s) 1 to House Bill 2547."
"Once again, Senate Bill 2655, Representative Slaughter. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 2655, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. The bill was read a second time previously. No Committee Amendments. Floor Amendment #1 is offered by Representative Slaughter."
"Third Reading. Representative Slaughter. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill. Representative Slaughter on Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2655." 10300124.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"All right. Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are… we're on Second Reading, right? Okay. All right. Thank you. The amendment, ladies and gentlemen, has two components. One is a request from the Illinois State Police that addresses a time-sensitive issue pertaining to their vehicle dashcams. The second component is a request from the Attorney General's Office that is providing technical cleanup to our recently passed AI child pornography bill that we did in the spring. I'd like to move this bill to third, discuss these amendments in more detail. Thank you, Madam Speaker."
"Representative Slaughter moves for the adoption of Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2655. All those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the amendment is adopted. Any further amendments, Mr. Clerk?"
"No further amendments. No motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Representative… Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 2655, a Bill for an Act concerning State government. Third Reading of this Senate Bill."
"Representative Slaughter."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House. As I just explained, this amendment does have two components. First, the request from the Illinois State Police are provisions that only impact the Illinois State Police. This amendment does not impact the hundreds of municipal police departments across the state or the sheriff's offices across… across the state. As of January 1, 2025, the Illinois State Police brought a conflict towards us. Our body-worn 10300124.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 camera act is in conflict with our 2008 Illinois State Police Act, which houses the policies regarding their in-vehicle dashcams. What we're doing with this bill is attempting to merge and harmonize our dashcam policies under our… under our body camera act. Our dashcam policies are somewhat outdated. They're from 2008. This pulls in and aligns provisions in regards to retention, in regards to FOIA with what we have in our 2021 SAFE-T Act provisions regarding our… our body camera act. It also has… it also touches on the actual procedures with audio and video recordings. Currently, in instances where our state troopers are asked to turn off their body camera… their body cameras, the dashcam audio and video must also be turned off. This puts them in compliance with our body-worn camera act, but it… it takes them out of compliance with our 2008 Illinois State Police Act. And so, what this does is bring that in line with our 2021 body camera act. Also, there's a second component in regards to the request from the Attorney General's Office. I believe this was a drafting error. Language was inserted into the wrong section when we passed the bill back in the spring. And what we're doing here is addressing a unintended consequence, and this is just technical cleanup to ensure original intent. That particular component clarifies that the charge of child pornography does not apply to the creator of a film, video, or photograph, et cetera when the creator is the sole subject of that depiction. It also provides some clarifying language on the definitions of purported child and distinguishable. Those two terms are also clarified in terms of… of 10300124.docx 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 definitions. This explains the amendments. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Madam Speaker."
"Chair recognizes Representative Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates he will."
"Thank you. Representative, on the first part regarding the in-car video and body-worn camera acts that are being brought into harmony, I think is… would be the best way to put that. As was explained in committee, the issue we're dealing with now is that there are some differences between the body-worn camera act and the in-car video act that are creating issues for the State Police in being able to comply with both of them. Is that accurate?"
"That… that's correct. When you look at the retention and FOIA provisions in the body camera act, we harmonize those. We also wanted to look at, again, when you're able… when you… in instances where you have to turn that body camera off, we want those… the audio and the… and video recording policies to be the same. So, we updating that… that 2008 in- vehicle dashcam provision."
"And the… and the in-car video act only deals with the Illinois State Police. So, they are the only law enforcement agency implicated by this change?"
"That's accurate. It only… only deals with the Illinois State Police."
"I believe there may have been some concern, it was not expressed in committee, but came to my attention later, that some changes to the FOIA Act, whether that would create issues with obtaining audio of the body-worn cameras at a 10300124.docx 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 future date. But there are… are there ways to get the audio recording under the body-worn camera act rather than the in- car video act?"
"Yes, there are. That's… you're reading… we're reading that the same way. Yes."
"So, the audio would still be available under the body- worn camera act, even if it wasn't available under FOIA?"
"Most definitely. Yes."
"With regard to the changes to the child pornography statute, we had made the changes you had mentioned regarding protecting the… from legal liability a minor who, most likely a teenager who's underage, who may take a photograph of themselves and share that from being… from being prosecuted for the creation of that image. It's of themselves. Is that the section you're talking about with this change?"
"That is the section, and I believe the language was actually in that bill but in a… in the wrong section."
"Well, I… I think, as it was explained in committee by the Attorney General's Office, we put that change in the definition, which meant not only the… the juvenile was prohibited from being charged but anyone else who obtained that image would not be charged."
"That's… that's correct. That's correct."
"And this change will allow… will protect the minor, but anyone who is not the minor who created the image would be subject to prosecution."
"That… that's correct."
"All right. So, there has been an instance, at least, that was brought to the Attorney General's…" 10300124.docx 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Unfortunately, since we've actually passed that bill in the spring until now there… there has been an incidence where we need to address this unintended consequence."
"And in that case, it was the father of a boyfriend who saw an image on the boyfriend's phone and took that image and shared it and…"
"Yeah. Quite didn't want to get into it. It's a very disturbing occurrence. But, yes, the father disseminated the… the video that the minor created."
"And the reason I bring that up is to be clear about what we're trying to accomplish with this change. That we're trying to protect…"
"Understood, leader."
"…the minor in this instance with this change and not those who are sharing it who are adults."
"Absolutely. That's… that's completely accurate."
"And this is supported by the Attorney General's Office. Is that correct?"
"This is a request of the Attorney General's Office, that particular component, yes."
"And it's also supported by the Illinois State Police. Is that right?"
"Illinois State Police, as well as the State's Attorneys Association…"
"Yes."
"…as well."
"All right. And the state's attorneys support it, as you just said. All right. Thank you."
"Before we… oh." 10300124.docx 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Chair recognizes Representative Guzzardi."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates that he will."
"Thank you. Thanks, chairman, for bringing this Bill forward. I have a quick question for legislative intent. Can you… and I know that the minority spokesperson touched on this issue some, but what does this change about how in-car and body-worn camera recordings are treated under the Freedom of Information Act?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Representative. The change addresses the technical issues created by the availability of the combination of both the in-car and body-worn camera systems. Since the audio recordings are tied to the body-worn camera, the law needs to reflect this distinction."
"That's all my questions. Thank you."
"Representative Slaughter to close."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I urge a 'yes' vote on Senate Bill 2655."
"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 2655 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' And 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 112 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' This bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. Senate Bill 899, Leader Buckner. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 899, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. The bill was read for a second time 10300124.docx 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 previously. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 899, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Third Reading of this Senate Bill."
"Leader Buckner."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. S Bill 8… Senate Bill 899 authorizes the Department of Transportation and local governments to restrict vehicle length on the respective roadways with the requirements that any local government must first make a request to… in writing to IDOT and must install signage to notify vehicles of length restrictions. I'm happy to answer any questions."
"Chair recognizes Leader Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates that he will."
"Thank you. Leader Buckner, it appears that, from our analysis, that this legislation will be granting IDOT the authority to restrict vehicle lengths on state highways or roadways. Is that being done by rulemaking? Is that how that will be accomplished?"
"So… so, the way… the way it will work is that… so, this would grant them the authority to do that, but then municipalities can coordinate with IDOT and put forth a written request that they want them to do this on certain roadways throughout the state."
"So, the… the local governments will make the request of IDOT…"
"Yes." 10300124.docx 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"…and then IDOT will decide whether or not to… to comply."
"Yeah. So… so, right now, we have local governments who have requested that from IDOT. IDOT doesn't have… doesn't have the legal authority to do that right now. This gives them the ability to do that, working in coordination with the municipalities."
"And do you know of any examples or instances where that… this has come up?"
"There… there's some… I have a list. There's some… some roads in Chicago, some other roads in Aurora, and there are a number of them in the Metro East where these municipalities have come to IDOT wanting to restrict the length of vehicles in this space."
"And where is the Illinois Trucking Association and Mid-West Truckers on this legislation? Are they in support or opposed?"
"They've taken no position."
"No position."
"So, right now, we have no opposition. The proponents are Active Transportation Alliance, the Metroplan… Metropolitan Planning Council. And the Mid-West Truckers Association and the Illinois Trucking Association have no position right now."
"And what was… I'm having an issue with my analysis. What was the vote in committee on this bill? Do you recall?"
"Oh, okay, there was no opposition in the committee."
"It was unanimous in committee?"
"Unanimous consent." 10300124.docx 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Niemerg."
"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates that he will."
"I just have a couple of quick questions. So, if I'm a local municipality, I have a very rural district, so, let's say, I've got Marshall, a very small town, and they want to go to IDOT. They can restrict… they can go to IDOT, and they can say I want to restrict the size of trucks or semis on our roadways. And then IDOT would then fulfill that… that ask, right?"
"That's correct."
"Okay. So, local municipalities, right now, don’t have that authority. Is that right?"
"They can… they said… part of how we got here is that they've asked IDOT to do this, but IDOT does not have that authority to… to do it within statute right now."
"Okay. And then the cost of erecting this signage, everything, that goes to IDOT. It doesn't go to local communities. Is that right?"
"No. The… the communities are still actually hanging the signs and whatnot, so it would still… it would… right now, they're paying for it. They would still pay for it, but they would be coordinating with IDOT in order to… to move forward on whatever proposal they have for the stretch of roadway that they were talking about." 10300124.docx 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Okay. But IDOT didn't have the authority. The municipalities are going to IDOT saying, hey, we want to restrict…
"Yep."
"…we don't want semis on our country roadways. We wanted to restrict that, but IDOT did not have that authority. This Bill grants IDOT that authority to work with those municipalities to do that."
"Correct."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Leader Buckner to close."
"I urge a 'aye' vote. Thank you."
"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 899 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' 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 110 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' This Bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. Senate Bill 952, Representative Syed. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 952, a Bill for an Act concerning civil law. The bill was read for a second time previously. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No motions are filed."
"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill."
"Senate Bill 952, a Bill for an Act concerning civil law. Third Reading of this Senate Bill."
"Representative Syed." 10300124.docx 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Thank you, Madam Chair. Senate Bill 952 is a quick-take bill filed at the request of Village of Deer Park to take a small permanent utility easement on a parcel of land and install a water main on the property to assist a nearby business. This measure will pave the way for economic growth in the area, and it passed the Senate with nearly unanimous support. And I ask for an 'aye' vote. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Leader Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she will."
"Thank you. Representative, have there been efforts to resolve this at the local level?"
"There have been, yes."
"And could you describe what occurred?"
"So, the village has approached two businesses on repeated occasions, has tried to have deals with them. One business agreed, was convinced by the other one not to, but there's a development on the corner that needs access to a water pipe. The construction would take one day, and they have not been able to reach a compromise. So, through this legislation, they would also receive monetary, you know, funding to make sure that any digging of pipes, digging into the ground, any inconveniences are well compensated for."
"And as you mentioned, this bill passed the Senate 50 to 4. Is that accurate?"
"It passed nearly… with nearly unanimous support. It was held… it was carried by my State Senator, Dan McConchie."
"Thank you."
"Representative Syed to close." 10300124.docx 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"I ask for an 'aye' vote. Thank you."
"The question is, 'Shall Senate Bill 952 pass?' All in favor say (sic-vote) 'aye'; opposed say (sic-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 83 voting in 'favor,' 27 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' The bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. On page 3 on the calendar, under concurrences, we have House Bill 4224, Leader Evans. Leader Evans is recognized."
"All right. Thank you so much. Sorry for the delay. I'd like to concur on both 1 and 2, Senate Amendments. Both of these are… this is a omnibus package concerning local government. There's three… three items, community mental health public question, a property tax on a trade school parking area clarification, and lastly, a special service area in Cook County in… impacting only one small parcel. So, I request your support."
"Chair recognizes Leader Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates he will."
"Thank you. Leader, there… on the issue with the community mental health public questions, I believe we've seen some of this, or this issue at least, raised before in other legislation. What is the issue we're trying to address with regard to limiting the ability to put this question back before the voters?" 10300124.docx 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Just clarification on particular property tax levies and… yes, clarification on the property tax levies, whether or not… we're just clarifying that it won’t be placed."
"And is there a reason why we're not allowing that to be placed before the voters again?"
"Yeah. We're just clarifying the legal status. I think that was a request from the mental health boards. I think they wanted to… yeah, that was some… this was already passed. So, just for clarification, it was already passed. I think there's a belief from some of the local towns that this was being used to try to circumvent, you know, what was passed. So, this is just some… clarifying this legal matter 'cause, you know, we just… we're just trying to prevent any issues with them."
"So, it… it passed at a certain township, I believe, and…"
"Yeah, Wheeling Township."
"…and that township did not actually levy the tax. Is that accurate?"
"Yes."
"And there were some efforts made to make sure they were able to levy the tax, or were required to levy the tax, I should say. And part of what we're doing here is saying that we can't put this… or, this township can't put it back before the voters to repeal the tax. Is that…"
"Yeah, that's my understanding. Yep."
"Okay. And then with regard to the Cook County special service area and the tax abatement, what issue are we addressing there?" 10300124.docx 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Yeah. There's a small parcel in Willow Springs, so just some clarification on the utilization of that small parcel."
"And this will allow… is this in Willow Springs? Is that accurate?"
"Yes."
"And it will allow for a recently reaccused property to have part of its property taxes retroactively abated. Is that accurate?"
"Yeah. And it… it may be increased, you know, to help out the local governments."
"And it's going to be limited to Cook County or those areas in Cook County that meet those definitional requirements."
"Not just area. This is particularly for a specific piece of parcel."
"And then on the Property Tax Code, this allows for parking areas owned by non-profit trust funds, a non-profit labor union, or an entity controlled by a non-profit trust fund or non-profit labor union to be tax exempt that… these that are primarily used for educational trade school purposes. Do I have that right?"
"Yes. It was just a parking area. It's not some large space to be, you know, misused, but just a parking area."
"And I believe this passed the Senate 47 to 9. Does that sound right?"
"Yes."
"All right. Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Leader Evans to close." 10300124.docx 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Thank you. I request your support."
"The question is, 'Shall the House concur in Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 4224?' This is final action. All those in favor vote 'aye'; 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 87 voting in 'favor,' 25 voting 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' The House does concur in Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 4224. And this bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. Moving to House Bill 4781, under concurrences, offered by Representative Evans. Representative Evans is recognized."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker and the great Members of this assembly. I'd like to concur in Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 4781. Ladies and gentlemen, this legislation is definitely, in my years here, one of the most personal. I think we've all had criticism of DCFS. We've all experienced issues of instability. We know what housing instability creates. It creates issues for all of us. And this bill is not an… it's not a solution to every problem, but I think it's going to go a long way to giving DCFS the tools to solve family issues, to increase family connections. House Bill 4781, the Kinship Act, will demand and make critical improvements to the way our child welfare system operates, specifically how it strengthens families and supports children that have been separated from their parents. This is why it's so important that we do everything we can to keep families together. When children can't remain with their 10300124.docx 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 parents, we must do everything we can to make it possible for other family members to keep that family connection. This bill will make that process easier to make more likely that children are placed in a safe, stable, and loving homes, will be able to operate, go to school, be good citizens. This legislation will ensure that children involved with DCFS are able to maintain and build relationships with family members, even if they cannot live with their parents, and assure that children are placed with a kin caregivers whenever possible and provide the support to help kin caregivers care for those children effectively. I wish all family members had a rich uncle, but some of us, the working class, the struggling poor, need a little bit of help, even to help those who we love. This is not just a matter of policy, it's a matter of improving lives. The research backs this up. Children placed with kin caregivers are… generally fare better than those placed with unrelated caregivers. What does this bill do? Reduce trauma, higher rates of behavior and emotional well- being, greater chance of permanency. That's what we're looking for. Getting these children somewhere permanent, higher placement satisfaction. The list goes on and on. Last spring, and I thank you all, this body unanimously passed legislation. Today, we're here to concur with Senate Amendment #1, which makes some technical adjustments to refine this bill and give the experts… I'm not one of the experts, but to give the experts, you know, people like our colleague Terra Costa Howard, folks who've worked in this spaces who truly understand what it takes. But we got to give folks the tools. This is a legislative tool. So, I just 10300124.docx 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 highlight really quickly six pieces. Since the Senate did not act on this legislation in veto session, changes to effective dates are necessary. So, we're updating some effective dates. Number two, we confirm… conforming the language of Senate Amendment #1 to reflect changes made by recent Public Acts. This amendment ensures that the rules governing the implementation of this law will be clear and thorough, especially when it comes to the forms used in the process. This amendment clarifies that DCFS must inform the Legislature directly about the efforts to procure federal funding for kinship navigators. It includes provisions for anonymous requests for guardianship support services and mandates that DCFS makes this process easier with electronic means by 2026. And finally, it ensures that complaints made by household members are handled in a timely manner. Complaints can be made 7 days a week, and all complaints need to be resolved within 30 days. So, I stand before you to urge you to join me in finishing the work we started. We're going to transform some kid's life, and hopefully he'll end up here or being a productive citizen. This legislation represents more than just a change to our welfare system, but it represents an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of children and strengthen families and to build stronger, more resilient communities across our state. We want our next DCFS director to be the most successful because all of our children are on the line. So, I ask for your support and available for questions."
"Chair recognizes Representative Reick."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?" 10300124.docx 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"He indicates he will."
"Marcus, you are to be commended for this, and I have a couple questions. I just want to make… I just want to clarify there is rulemaking authority put into this bill in order to enact it. Are… is any of this rulemaking emergency rulemaking?"
"No."
"There's no rulemaking. How… how much is this going to… is this going to cost additional money? Is this going to come out of an additional appropriation, or how's this going to work?"
"No. No additional appropriation. My understanding it'll give us an opportunity to access more federal funding."
"More federal funding. So, it's going to be driven that way, not to mention the fact that kids that would otherwise end up in third-party foster homes might be able to live with family members and thus, hopefully, make their… make their lives better because they are surrounded by people who know them. Is that… is that pretty much the idea?"
"Oh, yeah. You… yep. You're right on point. Yep."
"To the bill."
"To the bill."
"I'm… I'm happy to have added my name to this bill. This is the kind of stuff that I think we're seeing coming out of not only the actions by the… by the agency since we've brought in a new director, but I think there's a hell of a lot that can be done and is being done by our committee, the Adoption & Child Welfare Committee, that drives this kind of reform. I don't think we would have seen this two years ago. This is 10300124.docx 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 the kind of thing that we're seeing now because there's a new… there's a new way of looking at child welfare that's coming out of our committee and the chair… the chairman of the committee, Representative Costa Howard, deserves a lot of credit for that, for working across the aisle because we all want the same thing. I strongly urge you to please support this bill. It's important. It's… it's long overdue. It's groundbreaking. It's going to require us to pay close attention to its implementation. There's no question about the fact that we can just pass this bill and hope that it works. We're going to have to keep our eye on what's going on with this bill. We're going to have to look at the rulemaking. We're going to have to look at what DCFS is doing with it. But I do believe that this is a step forward that we can all be proud of as we move into a new General Assembly with maybe new hope on fixing our broken child welfare system. So, I… I strongly, strongly urge an 'aye' vote on this bill."
"Chair recognizes Representative Caulkins."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates he will."
"Representative Evans and Members of the General Assembly, we have a very distinguished person on this bill, Representative Mary Flowers, who was a strong advocate for the youth in this state. And I think it's only fitting that we recognize her today, even though she's not with us in this chamber, for all of the work that she did, and all of the… the effort, and all the time that she spent working on behalf of… of the children in this state. It's… I looked up and I saw her name on the… on the board, and this is probably the 10300124.docx 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 last time we'll see Representative Flowers on that board. So, please take a second and remember all of the good work that she did for us and for the people of Illinois."
"Chair recognizes Representative Halbrook."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"He indicates he will."
"Thank you. Leader Evans, you have a lengthy list of proponents, but there's a few listed here as opponents, and I'm just curious the… the nature of their opposition. The bill seems like it's a good bill, and I'm… and I'm just curious what their opposition, if you could speak to that, just so that we could air that out."
"You know, I haven't had… I think we need to recheck the Cook County Public Guardian. I think they were… you know, they worked with us on some of the legislation. I don't know if they liked the final product. But… but the other groups, I think it was more concern. I haven’t had any in-depth opposition conversations. I think folks philosophically believe different things about adoption. I mean, I'm not an expert, but what I've been informed by the experts is some folks believe, you know, taking away from the family is the best option. The data doesn't reflect that, but that's their belief. So, I think… yeah, and then that's no opposition on amendment, but I think some of those folks had concerns. But we worked through those and my understanding is no opposition on the amendment."
"Okay. So, the opponents are Adoption Advocates of America, the Adoption Center of Illinois, the Cradle, Evangelical Child & Family Agency. I guess I've not seen those 10300124.docx 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 names much ever, but maybe there's not been legislation that they want to weigh in or out on. But… so, to understand your statement is maybe a philosophical difference in the way they think adoption should be handled between…"
"Well, again, on the original bill. We're doing the amendment today. There's no opposition on the amendment."
"There's no…"
"I think only on the original Bill there was a lot of discussion."
"I mean, it… it came out of the Senate unanimous. So… okay. Okay, so, no… no opposition to the amendments?"
"No. No, sir."
"This was on the original bill?"
"Yep. Yes, sir."
"All right. Thank you. No further questions."
"Thank you."
"Representative Evans to close."
"Look, I'm… I'm probably the least knowledgeable on this subject. I've been informed and educated by so many, our Cook County Public Guardian, our colleague Chairman Terra Costa Howard, Lindsey… Lindsey LaPointe, our colleague, I mean, in- depth conversations, Colleen and Nora from ACLU. Just so many folks who work to help our children. This has been the most emotional bill I've worked on because some child and family is going to be reunited because of us. And lastly, we want DCFS to work. I want IDOT to work because I'm tired of the potholes, but I really, really want DCFS to work. We have to help these children, the most vulnerable. And a lot of them look just like me, Black children that have nowhere to go 10300124.docx 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 that's in the system, and they need a home, not just a place to lay down, but a home. So, let's help these children that look like me, mostly, who have nowhere else to go. Let's give their families the tools needed. Grandma's happier when she got a few dollars to feed you. So, let's help them, and let's stabilize homes, and let's make everywhere safer, South Side of Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Champaign. Let's make it a better place, and let's build some homes. So, help me build some homes."
"The question is, 'Shall the House concur in Senate Amendment 1 on House Bill 4781?' This is final action. All those in favor signify by voting 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' And 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 114 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' The House does concur in Senate Amendment 1 on House Bill 4781. And this bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 4412, Representative Vella. Mr. Clerk, please read the bill. I'm sorry. Representative Vella on House Bill 4412."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move to concur on Senate Amendment 1 and 2 to House Bill 4412. The underlying bill was a bill that helped streamline the background check process for private day cares. The two Senate Amendments are just technical changes. The bill initially came out of the House and the Senate unanimously. The two Senate Amendments came out of committee unanimously. There is no opposition." 10300124.docx 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"The question is, 'Shall the House concur with Senate Amendments 1 and 2 on House Bill 4412?' This is final action. All those in favor vote 'aye'; 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 111 voting in 'favor,' 0 voting 'present,' 0 voting 'opposed.' The House does concur with Senate Amendments 1 and 2 on House Bill 4412. And this bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Hanson on House Bill 4439. Representative Hanson."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker and Members of our General Assembly. I'd like to move to concur Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 4439. Senate Amendment 1 simply guts House Bill 4439 in its entirety. And Senate Amendment #2 is the entire bill, which designates the soybean as the official state bean of Illinois."
"The question is, 'Shall the House concur on Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 4439?' This is final action. All those in favor vote 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Avelar. Morris. Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 113 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 1 voting 'present.' The House does concur with Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 4439. And this bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Cassidy on House Bill 5373. Representative Cassidy." 10300124.docx 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Thank you. I move to concur in Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 5373. This… this amendment removes all opposition, addresses concerns raised by agencies around implementation, and fundamentally will make life easier for patients with chronic pain and physicians who are treating them. It makes clear that the Prescription Monitoring Program is a public health tool and makes it possible for patients to live safely. Corrects an overcorrection on our part in… in response to the opioid crisis, but, more importantly, makes sure that patients can get the medication they need when they need it and doesn't push patients into the street market and death, frankly. So, I ask for an 'aye' vote. And I ask you to please help save lives."
"Chair recognizes Leader Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she will."
"Thank you. Representative, you've explained a little bit about the bill and the… the rationale behind it being to help those dealing with chronic pain. How will this bill help those who are dealing with chronic pain?"
"It updates guidelines that we use within state agencies to make sure that it's very clear what… what is and isn't problematic in the opioid prescribing space, makes clear that there are patients who require higher than… than common doses, and creates a pathway to make sure that we're accurately tracking those prescriptions, but also making sure that those physicians and patients are protected."
"And I believe on the underlying bill there was opposition from the Sheriffs' Association?" 10300124.docx 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Not to my knowledge."
"All right. Do you… have they expressed any opinion on your amendment?"
"No. They have not. And… and I don’t recall having any conversations with them on the underlying bill that… that led to their opposition. They… we worked with them throughout and so that might be an old…"
"Okay."
"…designation. We worked with them around the methods that would be required to get access to the data. Every… all the law enforcement and state's attorneys and everything came to an understanding that a subpoena was the right way to go."
"All right. And what is the Illinois State Medical Society's position on the bill?"
"This is an Illinois State Medical Society initiative. Well, it was an initiative of one of my constituents and it's become an Illinois State Medical Society initiative."
"And this bill passed unanimously out of the Senate. Is that correct?"
"It did indeed, and we had a pretty robust bipartisan roll call here as well, as I recall."
"Thank you."
"Representative Cassidy to close."
"Please help us make life better for folks dealing with chronic pain. Please help us protect the very highly- specialized physicians that treat these very specialized patients. Vote 'yes.'"
"The question is, 'Shall the House concur in Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 5373?' This is final action. 10300124.docx 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 All those in favor vote 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' And 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 112 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' And the House does concur in Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 5373. And the bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. On Supplemental Calendar 1, under concurrences, we find House Bill 2474, Representative Moeller. Whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move to concur with Senate Floor Amendment #1 and Senate… Senate Committee Amendment #… Senate Committee Amendment #1 and Senate Floor Amendment #2 to House Bill 2474. The… the amendments are the… become the essence of the Bill, which essentially allows for nursing home residents who are facing retaliation because they have reported abuse or neglect in a long-term care facility that they reside in the opportunity to have a private right of action to remedy the retaliation. This essentially gives residents the same whistleblower protections that we currently provide to workers in long-term care facilities who report abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, we have seen situations in some of our nursing homes where residents, who are some of the most vulnerable residents that we have in our… in our state, who have witnessed abuse or neglect or have been… or have suffered from abuse and neglect, and after reporting such incidents, either to the facility or to the Department of Public Health, have faced retaliation from the institutions where they reside. This would not only give them 10300124.docx 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 means to justice, but also, hopefully, act as a deterrent for facilities that may have engaged in these practices before. It's my understanding that there is no opposition to this bill. It's important that we give residents who are, again, very vulnerable and may be victims of abuse the ability to take action and remedy these types of situations. So, I would ask for an 'aye' vote and happy to answer any questions."
"Chair recognizes Leader Windhorst."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates that she will."
"Thank you. Representative, what are we trying to address with this… this bill?"
"I'm sorry, it's a little bit loud in here. Can we…"
"What are we trying to address with this bill?"
"This bill is adding whistleblower protections to residents of nursing homes. It's giving them the ability to… to a private right of action in a situation where they have either they themselves been victims of abuse and neglect and have reported such incidents either to the facility where they reside or to the regulatory agency. In this case, it'd be the Department of Public Health. Or if they have witnessed others in the facility being abused or neglected, if they report that and have then been retaliated against, either having their medications withheld, food withheld, a move to different floors or different rooms within the facility, you know, any variety of… of retaliatory actions that may be made, that they would have the ability to hire an attorney and… and seek justice in a court of law." 10300124.docx 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Have there been instances of this occurring in Illinois that have been documented?"
"It is my understanding that there have, yes."
"And to address this, this bill creates a private right of action. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"All right. And that's to address what is defined as retaliatory action taken against the… the resident?"
"Correct. And retaliatory action is defined in the… in the amendments that are being adopted…"
"And…"
"…with this bill."
"…part of it is something that interferes with a resident's quality of life at the facility. Would you… is that phrase quality of life defined in the amendment?"
"I don't believe that the term quality of life is… is defined but…"
"What are some instances that you're intending by quality of life? Are there examples that have occurred that you could point to?"
"Right. It… it's instances where facilities have limited access to care or reduced access to care in a substantial manner that would affect someone's quality of life."
"And I think that the issue that I've heard is that term or phrase, quality of life, is a pretty… could be a potentially broad term."
"I mean, ultimately, this… this legislation gives someone who… who feels that their quality of life has been reduced substantially the ability to hire an attorney and, you know, 10300124.docx 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 seek a remedy and address an injustice in a court of law. Ultimately, would be up to a judge to decide whether or not retaliation actually happened within that facility. But it would give a resident the ability to do that, which I think we could all acknowledge is somewhat of a high bar for someone to have to meet. But it at least gives them the ability to seek a remedy in a court of law if they… if they felt that they had been a victim of retaliation."
"Has the…"
"And…"
"Go ahead. I'm sorry."
"…and just to note that the language that's included in… in Senate Floor Amendment #2 did bring the industry to neutral. So, we do not have opposition."
"And that's the Health Care Council of Illinois. Is that correct?"
"Correct. Yes."
"And the amendment brought them to neutral. They were in opposition. Do I have that correct?"
"Correct. Yes."
"And it received a partisan vote in committee. Is that accurate?"
"Yes, it did."
"And the vote in the Senate was 48 to 2. Is that accurate?"
"It… I… it… we… yeah. It was two vote… we… it was nearly unanimous, yes."
"Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Halbrook." 10300124.docx 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Will the sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she will."
"Thank you. Leader Moeller, the underlying bill here is titled day care home capacity. Does this amendment have anything to do with a day care home capacity?"
"It does not. The… the amendment #2 is the… becomes the bill and does not have to do with day care. So…"
"So, it has nothing to do with day care home capacity."
"Correct."
"Thank you. So, I wanted to speak to this roll call that Leader Windhorst spoke to moments ago. Two 'no' votes, but there were several Senators that did not even vote. That was bipartisan on some of the NVs over there. It's probably hard to understand what the 'no' vote… or the NVs were about, that they didn't vote, but what… what was the nature of the opposition? I don't see any opposition here. But why would Senators vote against this bill? It seems like maybe a good idea. I'm just kind of curious why they would have voted against this."
"I… I have not spoken to any of the Senators who voted against, so I can't surmise what their rationale was."
"Yeah."
"But I agree with you, I think this is a good idea."
"Yeah. So, what kind of a… what's the negative impact on these facilities if this bill would to be to pass?"
"I can't see a negative impact. This… again, this gives residents the same type of protections that workers have right now to… to not be afraid if they themselves are being abused or if they witness abuse to file a complaint and remedy that… 10300124.docx 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 remedy that… that situation without fear of retaliation. And as you can imagine, you… I'm… you know, I think we all have loved one… have known loved ones or have constituents who have loved ones in… in these long-term care facilities, and it's a very vulnerable situation. You are at the mercy of the caregivers in these facilities. And you can imagine the hesitation that people might have knowing that their very existence and the… and their… their quality of life depends on the people working around them, that they would… if there are no real consequences for… for retaliating against someone who makes a complaint, that it would have a chilling effect. And I… I think it's incumbent upon us as a state government, as a Legislature, and as regulatory bodies to ensure that our most vulnerable can live with safety and respect and… and dignity in these facilities. So, it's in… it would be incumbent upon… this gives these residents the ability to seek justice in… in situations where not only has abuse or neglect taken place, but they're… where they're being further abused because they were trying to make a complaint about that abuse. And I think this is a very reasonable piece of legislation to help give… to balance the power dynamic that happens in these facilities."
"So, thank you for that explanation. I see here that the Health Care Council of Illinois was opposed originally, but they… they moved to neutral in these negotiations in the Senate. What… what were they opposed to originally?"
"Well, I think HCCI would be the best to… would have the most comprehensive ability to address what their concerns were. But it's my understanding that part of the… the 10300124.docx 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 opposition was the original language included a rebuttable presumption, which I think they felt would prejudice or jeopardize their ability to have a fair hearing in a court. That language was taken out and what this language does is just merely give residents access to justice, access to file a… a private right of action without the rebuttable presumption language included."
"Again, thank you, leader, for those explanations. And with that, Madam Speaker, no further questions."
"Representative Moeller to close."
"Thank you. I… I appreciate the questions, and I would ask an 'aye' vote. I think this is important to ensure that our residents are protected and have access to a court of law and to increase the… the quality of life for… for people in these facilities. So, thank you, and would ask for an 'aye' vote."
"The question is, 'Shall the House concur with Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 2474?' This is final action. All those in favor vote 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' The voting's 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 89 voting in 'favor,' 16 voting 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' The House does concur with Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 2474. And this bill, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. Moving on to page 4, under the Order of Resolutions, we find House Resolution 903, Leader Evans. Leader Evans." 10300124.docx 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025
"Thank you, Madam Speaker and the great Members of this assembly. This House Resolution is important to me and just so many others. I've personally been diagnosed with cancer. Thank God, you know, 17 years later I'm still here. You all are stuck with me. But so many folks don't get the opportunity to hear that. And this resolution is about what can we do legislatively to send a message across the country but to also establish a framework to make cancer a human right. Every person that's diagnosed with cancer should be able to receive the latest treatments and expertise for their specific type of cancer. Most recently, I visited Boston, where they have some really innovative research on cancer. Because one day we want every individual to hear cancer and know that there's a way to be treated. We live in a time of a groundbreaking cancer innovation, but not all patients benefit. Too many folks in Illinois cannot access the latest and greatest advancements in cancer, and that's a shame. Illinois has higher cancer morbidity rates than the national average for almost every major cancer type. In 2024, there were an estimated 78,000 new cancer diagnoses in Illinois. This House Resolution, the Cancer Patient Bill of Rights, is a call to action to ensure that all, in every place in Illinois, patients have access to life-changing cancer care. It should… all states, well, particularly Illinois, residents with a cancer diagnosis should be able to access those things. We are pursuing this effort with a coalition, a great coalition, folks who've been in the fight for many, many years: Illinois ACS CAN, American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, Susan G. Komen of Greater Chicago, Leukemia and Lymphoma 10300124.docx 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 Society of America, American Lung Association of Greater Chicago, and several other groups. The Cancer Patient Bill of Rights supports the following: Cancer patients deserve access to specialized expertise, all patients. Patients deserve multi-disciplinary supportive care. There's many different ways to… to address cancer. Cancer patients have the opportunity to access emerging therapies. Everybody's body is a little bit different. In the chemotherapy, the tropic chemotherapy that I received was effective, but for somebody it could be something else. So, we're going to make sure every patient has their specific thing that would help them get over cancer. And next, to the extent possible, cancer patients should be able to receive timely care in their community, not waiting unnecessarily and passing away when there was hope. Cancer patients have a right to fully understand their diagnosis and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable language. We have a vast majority of folks in Illinois. Let's make sure that message is getting… getting to the patient. So, thank you all for your consideration and hopefully we can turn this bill of rights resolution into real policy to ensure that if you get… get a cancer diagnosis in Illinois that you're getting the best treatment and your hope is 100 percent, not just something to dream about. So, thank you so much."
"Representative Evans moves for the adoption of House Resolution 903. All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Avelar. Rita. Mr.… have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there 10300124.docx 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 are 114 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' The resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby declared adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 48, Representative Johnson. Whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Senate Joint Resolution 48 designates the area from I-74 and 4th Avenue in the Moline, Quad Cities to Interstate 280 as the Represent… 'Representative Lane Evans Memorial Highway.' Lane Evans served for 24 years in the House of Representatives, from 1983 to 2007. A former Marine from Rock Island, there was never a stronger advocate for veterans in Washington, D.C. than Lane. Lane played… Lane played a very large part in the Agent Orange Act that passed in 1991 and, in 1995, was awarded the Silver Helmet Award from the AMVETS. Lane's standard of constituent services is still the gold standard in our area. And I can think of at least 12 elected officials from municipal to county, to this chamber to our Senate, all the way to Washington, D.C. are former employees of Lane Evans. His legacy continues to grow in our area. I'm not going to spend the next two hours talking about all the great things Lane accomplished. We'll save that, hopefully, for a day in the spring in a bipartisan way. When we can get everybody together, parties from both sides, and kind of harken back to days when it seemed like, in these polarizing times, we really missed. So, I'm looking forward to that day. It did pass unanimously in the Senate. And with that, I… I will take any questions."
"Representative Johnson moves for the adoption of House… Senate Joint Resolution 48. All those in favor vote 10300124.docx 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 124th Legislative Day 1/6/2025 'aye'; opposed vote 'nay.' And 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 114 voting in 'favor,' 0 'opposed,' 0 voting 'present.' The resolution, having received a constitutional majority, is hereby adopted. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions. And now, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Gabel moves that the House stand adjourned until Tuesday, January 7, at the hour of 10 a.m. Those in favor say 'aye'; opposed say 'nay.' In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned." 10300124.docx 48