"The House will be in order. Members will be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by Chairman Joseph 'Zeke' Rupnick. Chairman Rupnick is with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Shabbona, Illinois. Chairman Rupnick is the guest of Leader West. 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."
"It… it's such an honor to be asked to give the invocation today. I… I've done this down in Kansas, but today is kind of special because as of April of last year, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is officially a federally recognized tribe in the State of Illinois. They kind of gave my introduction here, but I do like to remind the folks here that my name is Joseph Rupnick. I'm the chairman for Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and I am the chairman over about 4,500 members that reside mostly in the State of Kansas. But now, with our 1832 treaty, we do have a residence and a reservation in the boundaries of the State of Illinois. They asked me to give the invocation, and one of the things that… the way that I was always taught was that we do it in our language. And native language is important to us because that gives us that direct relationship with our creator, but some of us had to go through turmoil and tragedy. My mom, who was three years old at the time, was taken by bus from Mayetta, Kansas, where our reservation is at. BIE came down there, Bureau of Indian Education, said, 'She's old enough to go to school.' She was three years old. At that time, all she could speak was Indian, and they shipped her to Marty, South Dakota, which was a 10400018.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 Catholic school. She never talked much about it, and because of that experience there, she never talked Indian to us. Some of that was what we had to learn on our own, our other families or relatives and things like that. And because of that experience, eventually I went to a boarding school, government-run boarding school. I went to Phoenix Indian Boarding School and then eventually graduated at Intermountain Inter-Tribal Indian School. So, I want to offer these prayers here for us, and I'll do the best that I can in our language that we have. [Spoken in Potawatomi.] And so, what I said was: Our grandfathers and all of our grandfathers around us, the creator who is also one that has known to have created everything that is above us, our grandmother earth, our prayers, we're asking you to hear them, and we depend on these prayers to help each and every one of us. We are grateful for this good day. Creator, we know that you bring us good life and good health, and we are grateful for all that you have given us. I am glad that we have all come here today. And please help us work together, watch over each and every one of us, and bless all who have come. Amen."
"Will we… we will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Guerrero-Cuellar."
"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." 10400018.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025
"Speaker, let the record show that Representative Moylan is excused today."
"Leader Windhorst is recognized to report any excused absences on the Republican side of the aisle."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would you please let the record reflect that Representative Stephens is excused today?"
"Have all recorded themselves who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. There being 116 Members answering the roll call, a quorum is present. Representative Moeller, for reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. And congratulations. It's great to see you in the Chair this afternoon. I have a point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Last week, the House Human Services Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Illinois hospitals, behavioral and mental health care advocates, seniors on Medicaid, and the insurance industry on the potential impacts cuts to Medicaid at the federal level would mean for Illinois and the millions of people who depend on this program. That testimony confirmed what we already knew. These proposed Medicaid cuts would be devastating for Illinois families, health care providers, and our entire economy. Since 1965, Medicaid has been a lifeline for millions of Illinoisans, ensuring that children, seniors, and people with disabilities receive essential care. But today that lifeline is under attack. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are pushing massive funding cuts. 10400018.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 And if they succeed, the consequences will be catastrophic. Here's what we heard last week. Hospitals across Illinois are warning that Medicaid cuts could force closures, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Seniors shared their fears about losing access to community care, nursing home care, and lifesaving medications. The insurance industry explained how these cuts would drive up costs for everyone, not just those on Medicaid. And we learned that Medicaid is crucial to our economy. Last year, hospitals and health systems generated roughly $118 billion for the state and created 440,000 full- time jobs. These providers, along with 240,000 other caregivers, depend on Medicaid payments. The Medicaid expansion is estimated to… and Medicaid expansion alone is estimated to account for 55,000 jobs. But this isn't just about numbers. This is about people. Right now, two out of three seniors in nursing homes rely on Medicaid, and half of all the babies born in Illinois are delivered safely because of it. It also supports people with developmental disabilities. And in my district alone, 30,000 people rely on Medicaid. These cuts won't just affect Democratic districts like mine. Nearly 1 million Medicaid recipients live in Republican districts. On average, each of our Republican colleagues here in this chamber represent more than 23,000 people who depend on Medicaid to access even the most basic forms of health care. And studies from the National Institutes of Health found that Medicaid benefited rural populations every bit as much as urban and suburban communities. In fact, Medicaid expansion under the ACA was cited as playing a major role in reducing health care disparities. And while Trump and 10400018.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 his allies spent the last week claiming that their plans would not cut Medicaid, a report from the Congressional Budget Office released on Friday showed the truth. The Trump plan and the resolution passed in the House by the Republican majority cuts $880 billion over the next 10 years and includes devastating cuts to Medicaid, all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. We cannot let this happen. We all need to fight for the 3.5 million Illinoisians who depend on Medicaid. I call on all of my colleagues here in this chamber to stand up and let our congressional delegation know, especially our Republican delegation who voted for that $880 billion cut, we need to protect this lifesaving program in Illinois. It's up to us to make our voices heard. Thank you."
"Representative Syed, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, Madam Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"I want to call everyone's attention to the words of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who said Donald Trump's tax on everything working families buy every day was, quote, 'the most important thing America has ever had,' and that a recession would be, quote, 'worth it.' For those of you who, unlike Mr. Lutnick, am I… are not worth $2 billion, we do not have the luxury of cheerleading for higher prices, lost jobs, and lost savings. Professor Greg Mankiw, who quite literally wrote the book on macroeconomics, spells out exactly what a recession really means. For every one percentage point employment rises, 37,000 people will die. That's 20,000 more heart attacks, nearly 1,000 more cases of self-harm and 10400018.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 attempted suicide, more than 600 more murders. The National Institute of Health says that even a mild recession raises the rates infant mortality and maternal mortality. For people of my generation, this will be the fourth recession in our young lives. But by far, this would be the most tragic, as it is being brought on entirely by the policies of Donald Trump and those who cannot bring themselves to stand up to him. According to the Institute on Taxation Policy, the plan Trump and his allies are slamming through Congress actually means higher taxes on 95% of earners. Higher taxes on 95% of earners. That means people in your districts. That means your constituents. That means unless you're Elon Musk or Howard Lutnick, or maybe Donald Trump, your taxes will go up. And in every way, working families will pick up the bill for tax cuts for billionaires. We'll pay more every day for purchases because of the Trump trade tax. My generation, which has been told to trust the market, to save for the future, will lose a huge chunk of anything we've been able to put aside. We'll have to work longer with fewer opportunities and lower earnings. And the cruelest of all, as my… as my colleague, Representative Moeller, laid out, is that Trump and his allies will finance their tax cuts for billionaires while stripping health care access for the most vulnerable. So, all as we hurtle towards a recession where people will lose their jobs, lose their savings, they will also lose their health care. So, no one can sit here and say that we should be talking about state issues when health care for more than 3.6 Illinoisans is at risk and the health and safety of so many hangs in the balance. Health care is a state issue. Our 10400018.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 economy is a state issue. And when Donald Trump's policies threaten our health, our security, and our livelihoods, that has to be a state issue too. Thank you."
"Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports."
"Committee Reports. Representative Davis… Will Davis, Chairperson from the Committee on Appropriations- Elementary & Secondary Education reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 1830, House Bill 1861, and House Bill 3081. Representative Ness, Chairperson from the Committee on Adoption & Child Welfare reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2907. Representative Harper, Chairperson from the Committee on Agriculture & Conservation reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2726 and House Bill 3056. Representative Jones, Chairperson from the Committee on Insurance reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 35, House Bill 1918, House Bill 1931, House Bill 2371, House Bill 2628, House Bill 2805; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1360 and House Bill 2584. Representative Walsh, Chairperson from the Committee on Public Utilities reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 1828. Representative Moylan, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2714. Representative DeLuca, Chairperson from the Committee on Cities & Villages 10400018.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2754; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1842, House Bill 2894; recommends be adopted is Floor Amendment(s) 1 to House Bill 1082. Representative Meyers-Martin, Chairperson from the Committee on Consumer Protection reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1865. Representative Ammons, Chairperson from the Committee on Energy & Environment reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 1699, House Bill 1893, House Bill 2419, House Bill 2955, House Bill 3054, House Bill 3098; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 2516. Representative Croke, Chairperson from the Committee on Financial Institutions and Licensing reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2458… correction, House Bill 2459; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 2785. Representative Slaughter, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary - Criminal reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2586, House Bill 2602; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1088. Representative Swanson, Chairperson from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 1882, House Bill 2547, House Bill 2572, and House Bill 2777. Representative Manley, Chairperson from the Committee on Health Care Availability & Accessibility reports the following committee action taken on March 11, 2025: do pass 10400018.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1332. Representative Mussman, Chairperson from the Committee on Education Policy reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 11, House Bill 2503, House Bill 2976, House Bill 3000, House Bill 3037; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1366, House Bill 2337, House Bill 2537, House Bill 2986. Representative Costa Howard, Chairperson from the Committee on Human Services reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2539, House Bill 2728; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 3078. Representative Gong-Gershowitz, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary - Civil reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2562, House Bill 2570, House Bill 2924, House Bill 3144; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1593, House Bill 2456, House Bill 2493, House Bill 2873, and House Bill 3023. Representative Kifowit, Chairperson from the Committee on Appropriations-Pensions & Personnel reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2478, House Bill 2479, House Bill 2482, and House Bill 2484. Representative Ann Williams, Chairperson from the Committee on the Executive reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate are House Bills 1940-2329, House Bills 80-225, House Bills 227-642, House Bills 645-791, House Bills 794- 870, House Bill 872-1015, and House Bills 1158, House Bill 1364, House Bill 1866, House Bill 2352, House Bill 2667, House Bill 2749; and do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 10400018.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 1605. Representative Morgan, Chairperson from the Committee on Health Care Licenses reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2874; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 1805, House Bill 1806, and House Bill 2532. Representative Andrade, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation: Vehicles & Safety reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 2506, House Bill 2942, House Bill 2983; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 2386, House Bill 2394, House Bill 2442, House Bill 2836, House Bill 2857. Representative Jiménez, Chairperson from the Committee on Housing reports the following committee action taken on March 12, 2025: do pass Short Debate is House Bill 1610, House Bill 1843; do pass as amended Short Debate is House Bill 2545."
Speaker Avelar: "Leader West, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"I want to ask the body to look up at the Speaker's Gallery. If… if everyone here from the… for the Native American Summit Day, if you all can please stand. And I know we have others throughout the gallery, if you can please stand. I just wanted to make sure… I know we saw Chairman Rupnick a minute ago, who did the land acknowledgement and invocation, but we have phenomenal people from many federal recognized tribes who are here. We… I know we are still in session, but they will be exiting through that door behind you all so that we can meet over here so we can go downstairs. For at 12:30 p.m., we'll 10400018.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 be at the… in the rotunda and we'll be having a drumming ceremony. All are welcome, but I will ask that you… since it is Native American Summit Day, if the body would indulge me and give them a Springfield welcome. That would be much appreciated. Thank you so much."
"Welcome to Springfield. Representative Mayfield, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"There's a lot of students that are down here today for the Mikva Challenge, and I have a wonderful group from North Chicago School District 187. It is our AP government class. If you could please stand up so that we can recognize you. Can we please give them a round of applause and welcome them to the chamber?"
"Representative Mason, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. Along with the students that Representative Mayfield just mentioned, we have an amazing group of students from Warren Township High School, my home high school, and I'm so happy to have had the chance to meet them and talk with them. They are amazing, and I ask everyone to give them a warm Springfield welcome."
Speaker Avelar: "Welcome to Springfield. Representative du Buclet, for what reason do you seek recognition?" du Buclet: "Point of personal privilege." 10400018.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025
"Please proceed." du Buclet: "We've all heard of Emmett Till. Today, in our chamber, in the Speaker's Gallery, if you wouldn't mind standing, I have the profound privilege of introducing a man whose life is not only a testament to history but to the power of truth, resilience, and the unbreakable spirt of justice, Mr. Wheeler Parker. Many… many of us know the name of Emmett Till, a young boy from Chicago whose brutal murder became a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement. But Wheeler… Wheeler Parker is more than a witness; he is a survivor. He was there in the summer of 1955 when him and his cousin, Emmett Till, traveled to Mississippi filled with the excitement and innocence of youth. They were young Black boys who had every right to enjoy the freedoms of their childhood."
"Members." du Buclet: "But… but in the darkness of one fateful night, that innocence was shattered. Mr. Parker, who was in the house when the men came for Emmett Till, he heard the voices, he felt the terror, and he has carried the weight of that night for nearly seven decades. He is the last living eyewitness to one of the most horrific acts of racial violence in American History. But let's be clear: Mr. Wheeler Parker is not here just to recount the pain of the past. He is here because he has spent a lifetime ensuring that history is told truthfully, and that justice is pursued relentlessly, and that Emmett Till's story is never forgotten. In a time where some seek to erase or distort history, Mr. Parker has stood unwavering in his mission to preserve the truth. His courage and persistence helped lead the passage of the Emmett Till Act, signed into 10400018.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 law in 2022, finally making lynching a federal hate crime. Because of him, we're here today considering the designation of July 25 as Emmett Till Day here in Illinois, ensuring that our state leads the way in honoring this critical moment in history. And so, colleagues, today, we do not welcome just the guest. We welcome a guardian of history. We welcome a man who has pain and turned it into purpose, and we welcome a leader who has dedicated his life to truth, justice, and the memory of his cousin, Emmett Till. And it is my deepest honor to introduce Mr. Wheeler Parker, a witness, a warrior for justice, and a living reminder that we must never forget. Please join me in recognizing Mr. Wheeler Parker today. Thank you."
"Leader Spain, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise for a point of personal privilege and introduction."
"Please proceed."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the House, I beg your indulgence for a moment. I wish to introduce a few constituents of mine who over the last year have suffered a terrible tragedy. If our constituents from Tampico: Chasity Dorathy; her husband, Doug; her daughter, Morgan, are joined here with us in the northeastern corner of the chamber. Just about one year ago today, the worst news that any parents could ever receive fell upon this family. And they learned that their son was lost tragically in a car accident that also took the lives of two other young people. DJ was lost. DJ Dorathy, who was 16 years old, another 15-year-old, a 14-year-old were lost in a 10400018.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 terrible traffic accident. And I can think of nothing more awful or terrible as a parent than to get that call and learn the news that you have lost your child. And today, though, nearly one year after the death of DJ, Chasity was here this morning to testify and present legislation at the House Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee. And I thank and appreciate Chairman Andrade for giving us the chance to present this bill today. She is here in advocacy to raise awareness about the dangers of young people having too many other young passengers in their cars, which is something that is a violation of state law, but it is a point of murkiness in our statutes. And so, taking a tragedy and turning it into a point of advocacy is something that we are all incredibly proud of, and I just want to… rather than a moment of silence here, I think I would like to ask the body to join in expressing our appreciation of Chasity, your courage and testimony, your commitment to your son's memory. We honor DJ, and we thank you for all you're doing to help improve safety for young people in the State of Illinois. Thank you so much."
"Representative Ammons, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker, and you look amazing up there. I want to rise in support of Representative du Buclet's honoring of the Till family. I don't want to miss the moment that the death of Emmett Till represents. In 1955, there was the horror and the tragic torture and murder of a 14-year- old Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi. I've had the… the 10400018.docx 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 privilege of going to Mississippi many times and passing the town of Money, Mississippi, where I'm reminded of the death and the torture of this 14-year-old young man from Chicago. Emmett Till's death is considered one of the catalysts for the launching of the modern Civil Rights Movement, such as the Montgomery bus boycott in December of 1955. In 1963, Mississippi NAACP field director Medgar Evers was also assassinated. It is important for us to stop and ponder the moment that we are in now, where some want to erase this history, erase the experience of Emmett Till's cousin and all of our relatives from Mississippi. It is important that we do not allow the erasure, even though you may take the books out of a library. The living testimony of Emmett Till's cousin, who is in our gallery right now, is important in this historic moment as well, that many people, as our colleague yesterday mentioned, was taken from Columbia University and taken to New Orleans where their family did not know what happened to them. Emmett Till's mother did not know what happened to Emmett Till until much later. It is important for us to recognize the moment that we're in historically and prevent these kind of tragedies from happening, even though some would like to take us very far back. We refuse to go. We thank him for taking a moment here. And I had the privilege of coming to SIU and being on the panel with you, and you spoke to the students at SIU that day. And I was honored to be in the audience, and you didn't know who I was, but I knew who you were. And I thank you for keeping the memory, the tragedy, but the lessons alive in your life for Emmett Till, who did not get an opportunity to live his. In Chicago, we mark this 10400018.docx 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 as a historic site in Chicago with you under President Biden, and we thank you for keeping the stories alive so children will learn the history regardless to whether the book is actually in their library. And we honor you today for your presence in the Illinois General Assembly. Thank you so much. Thank you, Rep…"
"Representative Faver Dias, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"A point of personal privilege, Madam Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"I am so honored today to have two very special guests with me on the House floor, and I am going to let them introduce themselves."
"[Spoken in Potawatomi.] This means, my name is… hi. My name is Wiishkobi. I am Mko Clan, and I come from Skokie."
"And one more."
"Hello. My name is Rocky Lee Golding, and I am from Chicago."
"Girls can lead, and I hope someday they'll join us in this chamber."
"Leader McCombie, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Speaker. A point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"I would like to welcome today my guest, my page for the day, a very special guest, Jovie Stark. Jovie is a sixth grader at Riverton Middle School, where she excels in reading, writing, and history, being a future scholar. Outside of 10400018.docx 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 school, she is very busy, keeping busy with basketball, track, roller skating, which maybe some of us have never done, I have, and hanging out with her friends. Because let's face it, even the busiest students have to have some fun. Her mom, some of you probably know, House photographer, Shelly, is here with us today. Although, her dad, Josh, and her sister, Hanna, and her 14-year-old brother, Joey, couldn't make it. Jovie's music taste is a mix of pop and country, and she has some impressive goals for the future. She hopes to serve in the Air Force, I'm not sure how her Army mom feels about that, and becoming a veterinarian. She has big dreams, but we know that she's got what it takes. Please join me in welcoming Jovie to the House floor."
"Representative Cassidy, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I will join my colleagues in saying suits you up there. As the closest thing to a Sullivan this chamber still has, it is my annual duty to remind Members of the annual Sullivan Caucus party, which will be this Tuesday the 18th at the Gin Mill from 5:30 to 10. There will be corned beef sandwiches and bagpipers and all sorts of shenanigans. So, please join us."
"Representative Yang Rohr, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, Madam Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. I'd like to introduce the body to my page for the day. Meet Libby Magnone. Libby is a junior at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois. Today, Libby 10400018.docx 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 testified before the Illinois Education Policy Committee on House Bill 3037, the Right to Play Bill, where she was advocating for student-athletes throughout Illinois. Libby has lived her entire life in Wauconda. She's a committed student-athlete at Carmel Catholic, where she's a member of several national honor societies and also an active participate in the STEM competition team ACES, which stands for Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science. Libby looks forward to representing Carmel in her… with her ACES team at the sectionals tomorrow. And in addition, Libby is a skilled violinist and a four-time world champion log roller. Libby plans to major in sports management or sports medicine in college. She wants to integrate her passion for soccer into her… into her career and balancing fierceness on the field with a loving heart. She cherishes her cats, her friends, her families, and her faith. Libby is truly a remarkable young woman, and she is going to make waves wherever she goes."
"Representative McLaughlin, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you. I just wanted to make a quick comment."
"Please… please proceed."
"Point of personal privilege. I wanted to thank Representative Yang Rohr and Libby and her mom for coming here today and moving a bill that's really important. It's great that Libby will be able to play, hopefully, if we move this bill and pass it. And I hope it gets bipartisan support so that she can play for her high school team. This has been going on for far too long, where athletes have to decide 10400018.docx 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 between a private commitment and public. So, Libby, well done, and getting something past my colleague, Blaine Wilhour, is truly an accomplishment. And I know Blaine supports this bill as well. So, congratulations, and we'll be supporting you. Thank you."
"Representative Meier, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"I rise today to congratulate the Nashville Lady Hornettes for their winning the girls basketball Class 2A state championship. The Lady Hornettes dominated the reigning champs, the Peoria Notre Dame Irish, in the championship game on Saturday in a rematch of last year's state championship. This time, the Hornettes were crowned champions, dominating the Irish 55-29 after losing by a single point in last year's championship matchup. The Nashville girls continued their regular season success in the playoffs, winning the Greenville Regional, and cruised to the title after winning their semifinal game 60-32 against Chicago Phillips. Their final record was a dominate 35-3. This is Nashville's second state championship. I want to congratulate everyone who took part in this program. I know how much this means to the community of Nashville. My mom graduated from the Nashville High School, so I'm familiar with the joy the Hornettes bring to the community. Congratulations, Lady Hornettes, and I hope to have you up here in the gallery soon. Thank you."
"Leader Keicher, for what reason do you seek recognition?" 10400018.docx 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. A point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed."
"So, I… I want to address a… a hidden statistic that we keep dancing around in this legislature that we've got an opportunity to solve right now. I went and asked our friends at COGFA last week, when I saw some of the numbers released regarding unemployment, what that actually means in Illinois. And, folks, I want you to know that by no means is the State of Illinois average. Whether you're aware or not, the national unemployment rate today stands at 4.1%. The unemployment rate in the State of Illinois is 5.2%. Democrat policies impacting good jobs and job creators in the State of Illinois are costing Illinoisans 71,437 jobs. Democrat policies are denying the opportunity for those 71,000 Illinoisans to work and to earn on average cumulatively $4.2 billion. Imagine what $4.2 billion would do in our communities if policies were more friendly towards creating jobs instead of taking them away, instead of carveout tax schemes that seem to punish successful businesses. ICC chasing utility jobs, 60% of them union linemen that are now working out of state because Illinois is no longer investing in the grid. We look at the minimum wage increase and how, now, when we walk into any of our grocery stores, any of our fast food, we're ordering at a kiosk instead of giving a teenager an opportunity to have a job and learn principles about working and what that means. We will continue to go down this road. I've seen so many of these bills filed. But I want to leave you with the idea that we have the opportunity to be average and put 71,000 people 10400018.docx 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 to work in this state, 71,000 people just by being average. Please consider it. Thank you."
"Representative Niemerg, for what reason do you seek recognition? Representative Niemerg, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. A point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"I rise today to address the terrible consequences of the tax and spend policies the majority party has inflicted on this state. According to a new report from WalletHub, households making the U.S. median income of $79,000 will pay a whopping $13,100 in state and local taxes. That is more than 16.5% of their annual income and close to $4500 more than the national average, or 52% higher than the national average. What's even more disappointing about the one-party rule we have in this state is the fact that, even with all this taxation, we still have a giant gaping hole in the state budget. There is zero effort from the other side of the aisle to get pension costs under control. There is zero effort to lower property taxes that continue to hurt working-class families. And there is certainly no effort to lower the cost of government. One would think that being in the state with the highest state and local taxes on the median income would inspire everyone in this chamber to find ways to lower taxes. That would be the logical and reasonable reaction to this report. Maybe if we bring Elon and DOGE to Illinois, we could find a lower way… a better way to get the tax burden off the working-class families. Instead of going to the microphones 10400018.docx 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 every day to attack Donald Trump, you should take a hard look at the devastation you are bringing to this state with your terrible policies and poor leadership. Thank you."
"Representative Hirschauer, for what reason do you seek recognition? Representative Hirschauer."
"Sorry, Madam Speaker. First of all, I was a little lonely over here without you next to me, but then I looked up, and it's really wonderful to see you up there at the dais. You look good. Point of personal privilege, please, Madam Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"I just wanted to take a quick moment to introduce my district staff who is down here in Springfield for the day. They work really hard on behalf of the people of the 49th District. So, I have Kat Maggio, who is here, and Mariah Perez and Kenia Murrieta, who is here as an intern for me. She is a senior NIU, and we are going to be losing her this summer to Washington, D.C. when she goes for a summer congressional internship. So, our loss is D.C.'s gain, and welcome to the Capitol today."
"Welcome to the Capitol. Representative Ortíz, for what reason do you seek recognition?" Ortíz: "Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed." Ortíz: "Thank you, Madam Speaker. Leader Avelar, it is an honor to see you in the Speaker's Chair. I want to recognize the importance of this. An immigrant from Ecuador, formally undocumented, an individual who has spent her lifetime advocating for the rights of immigrants and now in this 10400018.docx 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 chamber serving the people of Illinois. This is our ancestors' dreams. This is the American dream. And thank you for your leadership, Madam Speaker."
"Representative Weber, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Chair. A point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the chamber, as you know, this is… this past Saturday was International Women's Day. And my wife and I and a couple other Representatives in here had the pleasure and honor of attending the first-ever collegiate women's flag football game in Illinois between Rockford University Regents and the Benedictine University Eagles. The game was at Walter Payton Center in Lake Forest, and these young women did a great job. It was fun to watch the game, start to finish. In the end, Rockford did win. But I'd like you all to please join me in applauding these young women for their excellent show of sportsmanship, athleticism, and kicking off collegiate flag football for women in the State of Illinois. Thank you."
"Representative Severin, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed."
"So, it's time for the MISO report this week of the fuel mix. I want to give that to you, but before I do that, I have two things I want to cover first. First off, I want to give a shoutout to Special Olympics today, and Representative 10400018.docx 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 Hanson may speak on this… in further information. But there's teams competing today in the International Special Olympics level, and so he may share about that. So, having been a past Special Olympics area director and being involved in that over three-fourths of my life with Special Olympians, I appreciate the opportunity to share about them. In fact, just one little point about Special Olympics I'll give out 'cause we had the first Special Olympian having a street named after him in my district about 25 years ago. So, I just want to give a shoutout to that. And before I give you the MISO report, I want to say another shoutout to Chasity this afternoon. She came and spoke in the committee this morning. She did a fantastic job speaking about her son, and she was very emotional, and I was very proud of her and proud to be supportive of that bill. So, I just wanted to share that. And now, the MISO report for the mid part and southern part of the State of Illinois. As we speak today, 29% of the energy that is being produced today in the MISO mix is from coal, 27% is natural gas, 15% is nuclear, 2% is wind, and 16% solar. That's this week's MISO report. Stay tuned. We'll see you next week with the PJM report. Thank you."
"Representative Canty, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you, Madam Chair. So good to see you up there. I want to take a moment during this Women's History Month to let everyone know that there is a reception next week to honor the Capitol staff women. It will be at Bloom Wine Bar on March 10400018.docx 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. So, let's please join them and thank the incredible women of the Capitol staff for all that they do for everyone in this chamber and out. Thank you."
"Representative Hanson, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Chair, and keep up your good work."
"Please proceed."
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. Thank you to Rep. Severin for bringing to the attention our Special Olympic team. The U.S. team is actually competing as we speak right now in Turin, Italy. Turin, Italy is famous for hosting many Winter Olympics over its existence. And right now, as we speak, through the 14th, the U.S. Special Olympics team, their delegation of 160 athletes and coaches, are representing our nation right now. Illinois has four delegates, including one coach, Jim Bluemond. Daniel Johnson, the athlete; Mallory Marvin, the athlete; and Brandon Waller, the athlete, are all competing in the in the snowshoe events. And we know that, even though they're from a place a little bit north of here, they should have been down here training because we've had much more snow than we've had back home. People want to know, why you carry around the doll? Well, it's not a… this is not a doll. This is Eddie the Yeti. Eddie the Yeti is a U.S. national… the U.S. Special Olympics' national team mascot, and everyone here in our… in our fine House will be receiving an Eddie the Yeti pin that both Rep. Severin and I… I have right now. So, to the 160 that are representing our nation right now and for the four from 10400018.docx 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 Illinois, we are rooting you on from afar through the end of the week. And I hope that we are able to bring them down to Springfield and give them recognition later on this spring. So, for all of you that support Torch Runs, pancake breakfasts, personal donations, and all their strength throughout the community that… that our coaches and our volunteers and our parents and our families have… have experienced the joys through their competition, this is your moment. Go USA. Go Special Olympics. Thank you very much."
"Representative Katz Muhl, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Can I check and see if we're putting a resolution on the board as well, or are we doing just a point of personal privilege?"
"House Resolution 180."
"Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. It is my turn in the rotation to share some Women's History Month thoughts. And I thought what a better idea for how to celebrate than to bring a woman to recognize from my own district. So, today, here with me in the chamber as my guest on the floor is Olivia Smoliga, an Olympian swimmer from the 57 District, and I would like to share this history with you today in honor of Women's History Month. Olivia Smoliga played many sports when she was in school: Irish dancing, volleyball, diving, to name a few, before, at age 14, dedicating herself to swimming. By high school, she was already breaking national records. In college, she won two NCAA titles with the Georgia Bulldogs. 10400018.docx 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 And in 2018, she took home eight gold medals at the world championships, not only setting a new Guinness World Record for the most number of gold medals won at a single FINA World Championships, but breaking the records of both Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel. Olivia remembers watching the 2004 Olympics and thinking, 'I want to be that.' Her dream of being an Olympian was planted in 2004 and fulfilled in 2016. She has competed in not one, but two Olympics, taking home both gold and bronze for Team USA. For the past two decades, Olivia has dedicated herself to the craft of swimming. But even as she steps back from the pool, she isn't slowing down. In January, Olivia launched In Depth Swimming Academy. She is completely rethinking the way the next generation of swimmers should be coached. She wants to do more than teach kids to swim. She wants to teach them how to believe in themselves. One of the academy's mottos is 'win from within.' The academy focuses on both exercises in and out of the pool, and Olivia has centered curriculum around goal setting and visualization, skills that she credits within her own success. She has transitioned from focusing on how she can be the best swimmer to how she can be the best coach. Olivia says, 'To see kids open up to my stories, to relate to them, to have them feel comfortable sharing with me their struggles and what their dreams are has been fulfilling.' And she says nothing has made her happier than giving back and seeing her impact on young swimmers. Currently, In Depth focuses on swimming clinics for kids ages 10 to 18, but Olivia sees the academy growing well beyond that and hopes that one day it's an academy for all athletes, all sports. Olivia's starting 10400018.docx 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 right here in Illinois with clinics beginning in the Chicagoland area. She says, 'I wanted to give back to the same clubs who gave me so much.' In Depth is running their first all women and girls' event next month. We celebrate women's history this month and women, not only for their accomplishments on paper, but for who they are as people, their values and dedication to service. It is my pleasure to honor Olivia Smoliga, a Glenbrook and Glenview native, a 57th District resident who has shown us the power of hard work, dedication, and giving back. And I'll ask Olivia to say a quick hello to the chamber."
"Hello. Thank you so much, Representative Katz Muhl, for your words. It's an honor to be here. It was an honor representing the United States at the Olympics, even more so the State of Illinois. And I just have to say how cool it is to be on the House floor. I've never done this before. Seeing y'all do your thing is really incredible. Thank you so much for representing us in Illinois, and it's my pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me."
"Thank you, everybody."
"Representative Hauter, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Does everybody speak today? Is this… that kind of day? I have a point of personal privilege if it…"
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. In honor of Women's History Month, I rise today to honor the first American-born woman to win a Nobel Prize for science, and the… only the second woman to win the 10400018.docx 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 Nobel Prize in medicine, Rosalyn Sussman Yalow. What a remarkable woman, and we still use her techniques today in medicine extensively. Born in 1921, she graduated from high school at age 15. With no money for college, she relied upon her overwhelming desire to become a scientist, a desire that was helped along by good grades, which won her free tuition and a coveted spot studying physics at Hunter College. Her passion was ignited for nuclear physics after hearing Enrico Fermi give a presentation on newly discovered nuclear fission. But when it came to graduate school, good grades were not enough, and none of the best schools would provide financial assistance to a woman. Therefore, in her senior year at Hunter, Yalow took a secretarial job with a biochemist at Columbia University. She was offered a teaching assistant position at the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There she could continue her education and pursue her dream of becoming a scientist. At the time, she was the only woman, the only woman, among 400 members of the faculty. In 1945, Yalow earned her PhD at U of I in nuclear physics. Through her PhD research, she became adept at building instruments to manipulate and measure radioactive substances. She became the first woman engineer at the Federal Telecommunications Laboratory. Her love for research and nuclear physics led her to New York, where she built and calibrated radiation detection equipment. Because instrumentation was not yet available, Yalow designed and built most of her own equipment. Ultimately, she built… built a full-fledged radioisotope service. Radioisotopes have become an essential part of medical diagnostic procedures. In 10400018.docx 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 combination with imaging devices, which register the gamma rays admitted from within, they can be used for imaging to study the dynamic processes taking place in various parts of the body. In 1950, Yalow partnered with Dr. Solomon Berson, and together they discovered radioimmunoassay, RIA, leading to new ways to use radioactive isotopes to measure blood, study iodine metabolism, and diagnose thyroid diseases. The techniques they invented allowed the precise measurement of minute concentrations of antigens in the human body. Diabetics no longer had to give a hundred ccs of blood, that’s about a cup of blood, that’s a lot of blood, for testing because RIA only needed 1 cc for an accurate reading. RIA could detect every human hormone as well as nearly every biological molecule. By 1970, RIA had been widely adopted and had revolutionized endocrinology. Today, it is used by blood banks and to screen for hepatitis, cancer, ulcers, and more. It is also used to screen newborns for thyroid defects. In her research, in her remarks at the Nobel banquet, Yalow hoped to inspire young women to enter the field of science. 'We must believe in ourselves or no one else will believe in us; we must match our aspirations with competence, courage and determination to succeed; and we must feel a personal responsibility to ease the path for those who come afterwards. The world cannot afford the loss of talents of half its people if we are to solve the many problems that beset us.' Rosalyn Yalow earned a Nobel Prize for physiology in 1997. She is a true trailblazer in medical science. Thank you, Madam Speaker."
"Mr. Clerk, committee announcements." 10400018.docx 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025
"The following committees will be meeting this afternoon: Meeting at 2 o'clock is… is Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools in Room 115; the Gun Violence Prevention Committee in Room 118; Immigration & Human Rights in Room 122; Labor & Commerce in Room 114; State Government Administration in C-1; Gaming in 413; Agriculture & Conservation in Room D-1. At 4 o'clock the Appropriations-General Services Committee will meet in Room 118, Appropriations-Public-Safety in C-1, Higher Education in 122, and Health Care Licenses in Room 114."
"Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 182, offered by Representative Ford. House Resolution 183, offered by Representative Elik. House Resolution 184, offered by Representative Elik. And House Resolution 185, offered by Representative Sosnowski."
"Leader Gabel moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those 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 Thursday, March 13, at the hour of noon. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say '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 4020, offered by Representative Mayfield, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. First Reading of this House Bill. 10400018.docx 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 104th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 18th Legislative Day 3/12/2025 There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 10400018.docx 32